The experiences of mothers of pediatric surgery children--a qualitative analysis.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers of children admitted in the pediatric surgery ward. Respondents consisted of a convenience sample of 10 mothers. Data were collected through in-depth interview and were analyzed based on the synthetic approach to grounded theory analysis. The core category that emerged from the analysis was "staying hopeful that the child is alright." The categories identified include discovering the condition, questioning God, seeking information, trusting the health care system, coming to terms, desiring to participate in the care of the child, and maintaining quality of care. Implications for health professionals include a need for thorough assessment and anticipatory guidance to the parents. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are also given.