This study evaluates parents’ and health care providers’ (HCPs) descriptions of hope following counseling of parents at risk of delivering an extremely premature infant. Data came from a longitudinal multiple case study investigation that examined the decision-making and support needs of 40 families and their providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted before and after delivery. Divergent viewpoints of hope were found between parents and many HCPs and were subsequently coded using content analysis. Parents relied on hope as an emotional motivator, whereas most HCPs described parents’ notions of hope as out of touch with reality. Parents perceived that such divergent beliefs about the role of hope negatively shaped communicative interactions and reduced trust with some of their providers. A deeper understanding of how varying views of hope might shape communications will uncover future research questions and lead to theory-based interventions aimed at improving the process of discussing difficult news with parents.
Little is understood about parents' experiences following children's moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using descriptive phenomenology we explored common experiences of parents whose children were diagnosed with moderate to severe TBI. Parents from across the United States (N = 42 from 37 families) participated in two semistructured interviews (~ 90 minutes and 12–15 months apart) in the first five years following children's TBI. First interviews were in person. Second interviews, done in person or by phone, facilitated updating parents' experiences and garnering their critique of the descriptive model. Parent themes were: (a) grateful to still have my child; (b) grieving for the child I knew; (c) running on nerves; and (d) grappling to get what your child and family need. Parents reported cultural barriers because of others' misunderstandings. More qualitative inquiry is needed to understand how the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and expectations of others (culture) influence parents' interactions and the family's adjustment and well-being.
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