"What about me?": lived experiences of siblings living with a brother or sister with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition
Humans; Parents; Child; child; Male; Attention; Emotions; sibling; life-threatening condition; Adaptation Psychological; life-limiting condition; paediatric palliative care; lived experience; Siblings; Hermeneutics
BACKGROUND: There is a lack of knowledge regarding siblings' experiences of being a brother or sister of a child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. Siblings' perspectives are often expressed through their parents and not by siblings themselves. METHOD: This study has a qualitative design within hermeneutic phenomenology. Thirteen siblings (ages 3-29) of children with cancer or genetic conditions participated in semi-structured interviews. Analyses followed a thematic analysis guided by van Manen's lifeexistentials. RESULTS: One overall theme, "What about me?", illustrates that siblings of children with LT/LL conditions are dealing with their own challenges and needs in the situation while also struggling to receive attention from their parents. The overall theme derives from three subthemes: living with heavy strains, feeling disregarded, and having needs of one's own. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that siblings' own needs compete with the needs of the ill child, resulting in the risk of siblings taking a step back rather than expressing what they might actually need themselves. These findings can inform healthcare professionals on the importance of educating and supporting parents and the surrounding community close to the sibling, for example, by helping schoolteachers understand how to meet siblings' needs.
Kittelsen TB; Castor C; Lee A; Kvarme LG; Winger A
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
2024
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2321645" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1080/17482631.2024.2321645</a>
Children's and Parents' Conceptualization of Quality of Life in Children With Brain Tumors: A Meta-Ethnographic Exploration
adaptation; Adaptation; Adolescent; Anthropology; Brain Neoplasms/*psychology; cancer; Child; children; coping; Cultural; enduring; experiences; Female; health; Humans; illness and disease; Infant; lived experience; Male; meta-ethnogrpahy; metasynthesis; Method: interpretive methods; Parents/*psychology; Preschool; Psychological; psychosocial aspects; Qualitative Research; qualitative. Geographic: Taiwan; quality of life; Quality of Life/*psychology; resilience; Resilience; resistance; survivorship; Young Adult
The concept of quality of life (QoL) is used in consultations to plan the care and treatment of children and young people (CYP) with brain tumors (BTs). The way in which CYP, their parents, and their health care professionals (HCP) each understand the term has not been adequately investigated. This study aimed to review the current qualitative research on CYP, parents' and clinicians' concepts of QoL for CYP with BTs using meta-ethnography. Six studies were found, which reflected on the concept of QoL in CYP with BTs; all explored the CYP's perspective and one study also touched upon parents' concept. A conceptual model is presented. Normalcy (a "new normal") was found to be the key element in the concept. This study calls for a conception of QoL, which foregrounds normalcy over the more common health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the need to understand the concept from all perspectives and accommodate change over time.
Beecham E; Langner R; Hargrave D; Bluebond-Langner M
Qualitative Health Research
2019
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/1049732318786484" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/1049732318786484</a>
How to Increase the Quality of a Suffering Experience: Lessons Derived From the Diary Narratives of a Dying Adolescent Girl
adolescent; dying; lived experience; narrative analysis; Suffering; unsolicited diary
Personal narratives are assumed to be primary sources of the essential meaning of lived experiences of dying. In this study, I analyzed the personal diary of Mirac Fidan, a terminally ill adolescent with advanced cancer who kept a diary until her death at the age of 15. Mirac's Diary, also published as a book, was subjected to hermeneutic phenomenological narrative analysis. Inferences were drawn regarding the following basic elements: (a) The dynamics in which Mirac lived and (2) her perceptions of herself, her immediate environment, and her experiences. Suffering seems to be the main experience dominating Mirac's life, which I examined with regard to two dimensions: suffering caused by inevitable factors and suffering caused by preventable/changeable factors. The results suggest that if various causes among contextual factors are neutralized, then the quality of the existential experience determined by the inevitable factors would increase.
Kavas MV
Omega (westport)
2018
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/0030222817694667" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1177/0030222817694667</a>
Missing life stories. The narratives of palliative patients, parents and physicians in paediatric oncology
Neoplasms/psychology; Medical Oncology; Middle Aged; Male; Disease Progression; dying; Child; Humans; Adult; Qualitative Research; Pediatrics; Adolescent; Parents; palliative care; Female; Attitude to Death; Attitude to Health; Narration; Switzerland; narrative; Leukemia/psychology; paediatric oncology; stories; lived experience; Oncologists; Bone Neoplasms/psychology; Sarcoma/psychology; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/psychology
Illness narratives have become very popular. The stories of children, however, are rarely ever studied. This paper aims to provide insight into how children, parents and physicians make sense of progressive childhood cancer. It also explores how this meaning-giving process interacts with cultural dominant stories on cancer and dying. The presented data come from 16 open-ended face-to-face interviews with palliative paediatric patients, their parents and physicians. The interviews were carried out in eight paediatric oncology centres in Switzerland. Data analysis followed Arthur Frank's dialogical narrative analysis. Quest narratives were relatively rare compared to both chaos and restitution stories. All participants welcomed chaos stories as a liminal haven between quest and restitution. The possibility that the child could die was either ignored or briefly contemplated, but then immediately pushed away. Except for one patient, children never directly addressed the topic of death. The way in which death was presented raises important questions about how the social discourse on dying is framed in terms of choice, autonomy and individuality. This discourse not only determines the way in which children and adults relate to the minor's death, it also constitutes an obstacle to children's participation in decision-making.
De CE; Elger BS; Wangmo T
European Journal of Cancer Care
2017
<a href="http://doi.org/%2010.1111/ecc.12651" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1111/ecc.12651</a>
Parent's Lived Experience of Memory Making With Their Child at or Near End of Life
child; end of life; lived experience; memory making; parent
BACKGROUND: Memory making is the process of creating mementos of a child with a life limiting condition, who may be at or near end of life, providing a tangible and visual connection to the child who has died. AIM: This study explored the lived experience a memory making process had on parents of children who were at or near end-of-life. DESIGN: A qualitative approach was used. Hermeneutic phenomenology methods provided guidance to the data collection, with a more limited interpretative phenomenological analysis conducted. SETTING: A purposive selected sample of 6 parents whose child had died and who had engaged in memory making participate. The sample was drawn from parents whose child had received care from a children's hospice. RESULTS: Individual interviews were conducted with 6 parents, all mothers. Three main themes emerged: Making the memories; the impact of memory making; and the end-of-life care journey. Parents experienced an overwhelmingly positive impact from memory making, as well as tangible and precious mementos that were created. The positive impact the process had on coping with grief and loss was also demonstrated, as well as the effect of helping to keep the deceased child's memory alive and include them in conversation. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of skilled and sensitive staff with the ability to introduce the concept of memory making, and choice at end of life were highlighted by the parents who took part. Clinicians may benefit from understanding how memory making can positively impact the bereavement experience of parents whose child has died.
Clarke T; Connolly M
The American journal of hospice & palliative care
2021
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211047838" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/10499091211047838</a>
Parent's Lived Experience of Memory Making With Their Child at or Near End of Life
child; end of life; lived experience; memory making; parent
BACKGROUND: Memory making is the process of creating mementos of a child with a life limiting condition, who may be at or near end of life, providing a tangible and visual connection to the child who has died. AIM: This study explored the lived experience a memory making process had on parents of children who were at or near end-of-life. DESIGN: A qualitative approach was used. Hermeneutic phenomenology methods provided guidance to the data collection, with a more limited interpretative phenomenological analysis conducted. SETTING: A purposive selected sample of 6 parents whose child had died and who had engaged in memory making participate. The sample was drawn from parents whose child had received care from a children's hospice. RESULTS: Individual interviews were conducted with 6 parents, all mothers. Three main themes emerged: Making the memories; the impact of memory making; and the end-of-life care journey. Parents experienced an overwhelmingly positive impact from memory making, as well as tangible and precious mementos that were created. The positive impact the process had on coping with grief and loss was also demonstrated, as well as the effect of helping to keep the deceased child's memory alive and include them in conversation. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of skilled and sensitive staff with the ability to introduce the concept of memory making, and choice at end of life were highlighted by the parents who took part. Clinicians may benefit from understanding how memory making can positively impact the bereavement experience of parents whose child has died.
Clarke T; Connolly M
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2021
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211047838" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/10499091211047838</a>
Rapid genome-wide sequencing in a neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective qualitative exploration of parental experiences
Decisional regret; genetic counseling; genome-wide sequencing; lived experience; neonates
Abstract Genome-wide sequencing (GWS) is increasingly being used in neonatal intensive care units. While studies have explored its clinical utility, little is known about parental experiences with this testing post-return of results. We conducted a qualitative study, using an interpretive description framework and thematic analysis, to gain further insight into parents’ perceptions of the value and utility of GWS for their infant. We sought to explore whether parents’ perceptions differ if their child received a diagnosis or not, and whether their child is living or deceased. Semi-structured, telephone interviews were conducted with parents of infants who had rapid exome sequencing while in the neonatal intensive care unit at BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Interviews addressed perceived benefits and harms of GWS and included an evaluation of decisional regret. Parents of 27 probands were approached and 14 (52%; 13 mothers and 1 father) participated in interviews. On average, 26 months had elapsed from the time of results to the interview. Six themes were identified. Firstly, parents had a positive regard for GWS. The results of GWS helped provide context for their child's admission to the NICU, and all parents experienced relief following receiving the results. A diagnosis by GWS enabled parents to picture the future, form connections with other parents, and coordinate their child's care. Lastly, some parents experienced discomfort with the concept of a genetic diagnosis, and interestingly felt lack of a genomic diagnosis indicated a reduced severity of their infant's condition. Decisional regret post-results was found to be low. Our results highlight how parents cope with the results of GWS and suggest that a genetic counselor can have an important role in helping families understand and adjust to these results in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Aldridge CE; Osiovich H; Siden H; Elliott AM
Journal of Genetic Counseling
2020
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1353" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/jgc4.1353</a>
Rapid genome-wide sequencing in a neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective qualitative exploration of parental experiences
genetic counseling; lived experience; neonates; Decisional regret; genome-wide sequencing
Abstract Genome-wide sequencing (GWS) is increasingly being used in neonatal intensive care units. While studies have explored its clinical utility, little is known about parental experiences with this testing post-return of results. We conducted a qualitative study, using an interpretive description framework and thematic analysis, to gain further insight into parents’ perceptions of the value and utility of GWS for their infant. We sought to explore whether parents’ perceptions differ if their child received a diagnosis or not, and whether their child is living or deceased. Semi-structured, telephone interviews were conducted with parents of infants who had rapid exome sequencing while in the neonatal intensive care unit at BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Interviews addressed perceived benefits and harms of GWS and included an evaluation of decisional regret. Parents of 27 probands were approached and 14 (52%; 13 mothers and 1 father) participated in interviews. On average, 26 months had elapsed from the time of results to the interview. Six themes were identified. Firstly, parents had a positive regard for GWS. The results of GWS helped provide context for their child's admission to the NICU, and all parents experienced relief following receiving the results. A diagnosis by GWS enabled parents to picture the future, form connections with other parents, and coordinate their child's care. Lastly, some parents experienced discomfort with the concept of a genetic diagnosis, and interestingly felt lack of a genomic diagnosis indicated a reduced severity of their infant's condition. Decisional regret post-results was found to be low. Our results highlight how parents cope with the results of GWS and suggest that a genetic counselor can have an important role in helping families understand and adjust to these results in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Aldridge CE; Osiovich H; Siden H; Elliott AM
Journal of Genetic Counseling
2020
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1353" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/jgc4.1353</a>
Sibling Relationships Over the Life Course: Growing Up With a Disability
lived experience; Israel; qualitative; developmental disability; health; families; interpretive phenomenological analysis
The research explores sibling relationships, and the ways in which they are shaped over the life course by family members, in families with a lifelong disability. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 family units including a parent, a sibling, and an adult sibling with a disability. The content analysis revealed five sibling relationship patterns: (a) "Not a child, but a parent caretaker"-the parent-surrogate sibling; (b) "We somehow grew apart"-the estranged sibling; (c) "It is important for me to maintain some kind of distance"-the bystander sibling; (d) "When there's something they want to tell him, they always send me"-the mediator sibling; and (e) "I love him to death"-the friend sibling. These patterns of adult sibling relationships are discussed in relation to family dynamics, values, and legacies; recommendations for practice and research are made.
Avieli H; Band-Winterstein T; Araten BT
Qualitative Health Research
2019
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/1049732319837228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/1049732319837228</a>