Britt Marie Ygge1, Judith E Arnetz. 1. Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, and Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. britt-marie.ygge@ks.se
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although it has become common practice for parents to stay with their sick child in hospital, most hospitals lack routines and staff guidelines for involving parents in care processes and decisions. AIM: To gain a deeper understanding of factors that influence parental involvement and to clarify the parental role in the hospital care of chronically ill children. METHODS: Semistructured interviews with 14 parents of chronically ill children. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: support, professionalism, work environment, and responsibility. These themes describe the experience and perceptions of parents who regularly spend time in the hospital with their children. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical practices regarding parental involvement need to be established to optimize the hospital care of chronically ill children.
BACKGROUND: Although it has become common practice for parents to stay with their sick child in hospital, most hospitals lack routines and staff guidelines for involving parents in care processes and decisions. AIM: To gain a deeper understanding of factors that influence parental involvement and to clarify the parental role in the hospital care of chronically ill children. METHODS: Semistructured interviews with 14 parents of chronically ill children. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: support, professionalism, work environment, and responsibility. These themes describe the experience and perceptions of parents who regularly spend time in the hospital with their children. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical practices regarding parental involvement need to be established to optimize the hospital care of chronically ill children.