| Learning Objective #1: Identify some of the needs of families of disabled children | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss relationships in families and describe interventions to assist in coping with a difficult situation to meet the needs of all its members |
Objective: A study to investigate experiences of siblings in a family when a previously healthy child suffers the onset of a chronic illness or severe injury requiring initial hospitalization, has a prognosis of long-term rehabilitation and home care. The stress burden of siblings and families in this situation is significant and needs to effectively be managed by nurses. Design: A qualitative, exploratory, using a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of a well child having a chronically ill sibling who is hospitalized. A secondary analysis was done to further analyze the data collected. Sample: Ten children, six to eighteen years, English speaking, interviewed either in a rehabilitation hospital or at home. Concepts studied together: Individual’s disclosures of their private experiences. Theme clusters were merged into theme categories. Methods: General- Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology and Van Manen’s approach. Specific- Phenomenological approach. Data were generated, etymological sources were found and existential descriptions from participants were obtained. Findings: Themes were: dispirited weariness, emotional turmoil, unrelenting anger, working through parental situation, sense of grief and loss, ways to cope and uncertainty. Conclusions: Through listening to the experiences of the siblings the researcher begins to understand the nature of their transaction with themselves and with their family. A secondary analysis of the data assisted the researcher in working with families who encounter difficult problems. Implications: It has been consistently noted in the literature that family relationships are disrupted by the presence of disabled children. Because of the lack of investigations of well siblings, little information has been available to provide the basis for effective models of intervention. Such interventions could help families with disabled children to develop better strategies for coping and lead normal lives. Using the finding of this study can improve understanding of experiences as they influence family relationships and in turn affect nursing practice.
Back to Family Health
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003