Table 4.

Assessing Level of Relevance across Categories of Family Research

Topical category	Relevance to study aims
	High relevance—Include all reports with this content focus	Qualified relevance—Include if report relationship between content focus and child/family/family member functioning	Low relevance—Exclude all reports with this content focus
Family system functioning	Family relationships Family structure Family processes Family system characteristics Family resources	Family member perceptions and congruence across family members	Economic burden of condition to families Methods/measures development
Affected child functioning	Perception of family experience	Health status Well-being and functioning	Comparisons to healthy children Methods/measures development
Family member functioning (parents, siblings)	Performance of parenting role Perception of parenting and family experience	Well-being and functioning	Comparisons to parents of healthy children Methods/measures development
Family/family member demographics		Age/developmental stage Gender Race/ethnicity Socio-economic status Parent’s education Geographic location	Population-based descriptions of demographic characteristics of families in which a child has a chronic condition Demographic variable as control variable Methods/measures development
Condition management and control	Regimen management (e.g., adherence, symptom monitoring, incorporating regimen into family life)	Family members’ knowledge, beliefs, and/or concerns about the condition or treatments Family members’ ability to carry out treatments or use medical equipment	Comparative efficacy of treatments Risks for condition or risk reduction Incidence of condition
Family/family member interaction with healthcare system		Health and social services utilization Healthcare expenditures Needs/satisfaction Family/professional provider relations	Distributions of providers and services Economic analyses of family caregiving