Psychosocial outcomes of medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities.
Eden J Winslow, Joshua R Siegel, Wilsaan M Joiner and 2 others
PMID 42047635WHAT IT FOUND
Across 33 studies, medical specialty camps for children with physical disabilities consistently improved self-esteem, social connection, and belonging.
Qualitative data showed campers felt safe and accepted, though long-term effects often faded without follow-up programs or local resources.
Key findings
01Qualitative studies unanimously reported that campers experienced fun, lasting connections, and a sense of belonging where they felt accepted and safe.
02Quantitative studies reported improvements in psychosocial outcomes like self-esteem, quality of life, and social interaction, though only four studies found no significant improvements.
03A major barrier to maintaining camp benefits was the lack of accessible local resources or follow-up programs once campers returned home.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Most studies lacked control groups, making it impossible to separate camp effects from natural development or other concurrent factors. Participant demographics were often not reported, and when they were, samples were predominantly White and middle-to-upper class, limiting generalizability. Long-term follow-up data was sparse and inconsistent, so the durability of psychosocial benefits is unclear. The review included studies on various disabilities, making it difficult to apply findings to specific conditions without considering the unique context of each camp.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by NSF and NIH grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these camps provide lasting clinical change. The review found that positive effects often faded within months without follow-up, and most studies lacked control groups, so improvements may reflect natural development or the novelty of the experience rather than a sustained therapeutic effect.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →