Challenges and Coping Styles of Fathers as Primary Medical Caretakers: A Multicultural Qualitative Study

Wolff, Joshua R.; Pak, Jenny; Meeske, RN Kathleen; Worden, J. William; Katz, Ernest R.

doi:10.1080/07347330903516902

Cited by 18 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…After a review of the current literature about how to support parental caregivers of children with life‐threatening or life‐limiting conditions, reoccurring themes that were not prioritized by Delphi participants were identified. One theme repeated in other studies included parents discussing the impact that the financial burden of having an ill child had on their psychosocial well‐being (Cadell et al, ; Rallison & Raffin‐Bouchal, ; Wolff, Pak, Meeske, Worden, & Ernest, ). This may be a result of the health care system in Canada and a decreased association of hope with finances.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting parental caregivers of children living with life‐threatening or life‐limiting illnesses: A Delphi study

Smith

Bally

Holtslander

et al. 2018

Specialist Pediatric Nursing

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Background The impact of a child s life‐limiting or life‐threatening illness is significant on parents who experience a great deal of emotional, physical, and spiritual upheaval. Hope has been identified as an important inner resource for parental caregivers. Specifically, parental hope has been described as having four subproceses including Accepting Reality, Establishing Control, Restructuring Hope, and Purposive Positive Thinking. Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to gather expert opinions from parents and formal care providers about the four subproceses essential to parental hope, to increase understanding of parental caregivers current support needs. As Phase one of a three‐phase study, the findings provided direction in the development of a theory‐based hope intervention. Design and Methods A Delphi study consisting of three rounds of survey questions and controlled feedback to experts was employed. Experts suggested strategies for each subprocess and ranked them in order of highest to lowest according to feasibility and effectiveness. Results Sixty‐eight experts consisting of parental caregivers of children diagnosed with life‐limiting or life‐threatening illnesses and those who care for them (community members, nurses, social workers, and physicians) were recruited to participate. Through three rounds of survey questions, response rates ranged from 92–97%. A consensus revealed eight major themes that support parental hope: Organize Basic Needs; Connect with Others; Prioritize Self‐care; Obtain Meaningful Information; Take Things Day by Day; Advocate for Parental Participation; Manifest Positivity; and Celebrate Milestones. Practice Implications This study identified a wide variety of psychosocial needs for parental caregivers. Results also offered direction for a theory‐based hope intervention while highlighting the need for additional research in this area. These results will provide the foundation for a booklet parents can work through in their journey of caring for a child with a life‐limiting or life‐threatening illness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting parental caregivers of children living with life‐threatening or life‐limiting illnesses: A Delphi study

Smith

Bally

Holtslander

et al. 2018

Specialist Pediatric Nursing

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“…Utilizing available social support might help fathers deal adaptively with challenges and contribute to benefit finding over time (Brody & Simmons, 2007; Wolff, Pak, Meeske, Worden, & Katz, 2010). Additionally, their desire to give back to others who are in the same or similar situations more clearly illustrates the positive impact of their experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefit Finding in Fathers of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Hensler

Katz

Wiener

et al. 2013

J Pediatr Oncol Nurs

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There is a growing literature examining positive outcomes following traumatic experiences. Although the diagnosis of a child with cancer poses extraordinary challenges for the family, awareness is growing that such a life-changing event can be a catalyst for positive growth. The current mixed-method study investigated benefit finding in fathers (N=25) of childhood cancer survivors. Benefit finding included positive changes resulting from adversity. Participants completed a benefit finding measure and an interview describing their experience and benefits from the challenges faced during their child’s cancer journey. Findings indicated that fathers endorsed high levels of benefit finding (M=4.1 out of 5) specifically in: personal growth, spiritual change, and relationships with others. Our study extends the literature by examining how their child’s cancer journey contributed to specific domains of paternal benefit finding. These results support the use of a positive psychology framework for understanding effects of a child’s cancer diagnosis on caregivers.

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“…Whilst in the majority of cases the mother is the primary health carer (10) , a key theme mentioned throughout qualitative studies was the desire for fathers to be seen by the health team as an active carer (5,16,22) . Fathers were as " in tune " with their children as mothers of children with chronic disease (23,29) .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of qualitative studies included fathers ' descriptions of somatic symptoms (3,5) . Although more prevalent in mothers, Martinson et al (2) quantified that fathers were more likely to exhibit symptoms of colds closer to diagnosis, while other somatic symptoms (including nausea, headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite and weight loss) were more prevalent in mothers.…”

Section: Diagnosis and Short Termmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detached, distraught or discerning? Fathers of adolescents with chronic illness: a review of the literature

Goldstein

Akré

Bélanger

et al. 2013

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health

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Parenting a child with chronic disease provides a unique set of challenges for both mothers and fathers throughout all phases of the illness. However, fathers of these children are under-represented in existing research. This review focuses on the fathers of children with chronic disease included in 44 original articles. We address the challenges to the father ' s role as breadwinner, leader and strength-giver in the family. Three time-periods describe the obstacles fathers tackle when parenting children with chronic disease: a) diagnosis and short-term, characterized by distress, isolation and uncertainty; b) the mastery period, characterized by the struggle to establish routine and by support and spiri tuality; and c) the long-term, characterized by relationship and personality change, worries and bereavement. Overall, whilst current research has revealed some key themes pertaining to fathers of children with chronic disease, further studies are required to foster the development of support mechanisms for the specific needs of these fathers.

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Challenges and Coping Styles of Fathers as Primary Medical Caretakers: A Multicultural Qualitative Study

Cited by 18 publications

References 24 publications

Supporting parental caregivers of children living with life‐threatening or life‐limiting illnesses: A Delphi study

Supporting parental caregivers of children living with life‐threatening or life‐limiting illnesses: A Delphi study

Benefit Finding in Fathers of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Detached, distraught or discerning? Fathers of adolescents with chronic illness: a review of the literature

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