Meaghann S Weaver1, Pamela Hinds2,3, Jody Koenig Kellas4, Michael L Hecht5,6. 1. Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 2. Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. 3. Department of Nursing Science, Professional Practice and Quality, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA. 4. Department of Communication Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. 5. Distinguished Professor Emeritus for the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA. 6. REAL Prevention, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
Background: Parents of seriously ill children are at risk of psychosocial morbidity, which may be mitigated by competent family-centered communication and role-affirming conversations. Parent caregivers describe a guiding desire to do a good job in their parenting role but also depict struggling under the intense weight of parental duty. Objectives and Design: Through this case study, the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) provides a framework for conceptualizing how palliative care teams can help parents cope with this reality. CTI views communication with care teams as formative in the development and enablement of parental perceptions of their "good parenting" role. Results: Palliative care teams may consider the four frames of identity (personal, enacted, relational, and communal) as meaningful dimensions of the parental pursuit to care well for an ill child. Conclusion: Palliative care teams may consider compassionate communication about parental roles to support the directional virtues of multilayered dynamic parental identity.
Background: Parents of seriously ill children are at risk of psychosocial morbidity, which may be mitigated by competent family-centered communication and role-affirming conversations. Parent caregivers describe a guiding desire to do a good job in their parenting role but also depict struggling under the intense weight of parental duty. Objectives and Design: Through this case study, the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) provides a framework for conceptualizing how palliative care teams can help parents cope with this reality. CTI views communication with care teams as formative in the development and enablement of parental perceptions of their "good parenting" role. Results: Palliative care teams may consider the four frames of identity (personal, enacted, relational, and communal) as meaningful dimensions of the parental pursuit to care well for an ill child. Conclusion: Palliative care teams may consider compassionate communication about parental roles to support the directional virtues of multilayered dynamic parental identity.
Entities:
Keywords:
case report; communicated theory of identity; communication; pediatric palliative care