The multiple meanings of long-term gastrostomy in children with severe disability

The multiple meanings of long-term gastrostomy in children with severe disability

Thorne SE; Radford MJ; McCormick J

Journal Of Pediatric Nursing

1997

Child; Humans; United States; Canada; Attitude to Health; Attitude of Health Personnel; Time Factors; Caregivers/psychology; Interviews; Mothers/psychology; Nutritional Failure; Gastrostomy/nursing/psychology; Nurses/psychology

Although the physiological implications of long-term gastrostomy for children with severe disability are well documented in the nursing literature, little is known about the psychosocial effect of this technological intervention. This study documents and interprets the perspective of expert nurses and parents to reveal conflictual social processes associated with gastrostomy decision-making and the intense moral dilemma that these processes create. The findings suggest that gastrostomy denotes multiple meanings for parents and health care providers, and that an appreciation for these meanings can have a significant positive impact on nursing care for these children and their families.

1997

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