Fathers’ Perspectives on the Emotional Impact of Managing the Care of Their Children With Cystic Fibrosis

doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2007.09.002

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

Volume 23, Issue 4, August 2008, Pages 250-256

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2007.09.002 Get rights and content

In this article, fathers' perspectives on the emotional impact of managing the care of their children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are examined. The constant worry of living with the unpredictability of CF was highlighted in this study, drawing on interviews with eight Irish fathers, who experienced difficulties communicating their concerns to others. Despite efforts at not dwelling on CF, fathers described being surrounded by constant reminders. To minimize the emotional impact of managing their children's care, fathers described living from day to day rather than looking into the future. These findings demonstrate the need for supportive interventions in helping fathers manage the emotional demands of caring for their children with CF.

Section snippets

Background

To date, little research has been conducted on the views and experiences of fathers concerning their involvement in caring for their children with CF and what the day-to-day emotional impact of this might be for them. Existing knowledge on how parents manage the care of their children with CF is predominately based on research on mothers' perspectives (e.g., Gibson, 1995, Hodgkinson & Lester, 2002, Stewart et al., 1994). These researchers have described mothers as the principal caregivers who

Methodology

The perspectives of fathers described in this article are drawn from a descriptive qualitative study that aimed to explore their experiences of caring for their children with CF, with consideration to their level of involvement and the physical, emotional, and social health effects of caregiving.

The following sample groups were eligible for inclusion into the study: biological fathers of children with CF; fathers of children aged between 1 and 6 years diagnosed as having CF at least 1 year

Results

The fathers' accounts indicated that they were involved in every aspect of their children's CF care, albeit to a lesser extent than their wives for the most part. Irrespective of their level of involvement, day-to-day caregiving impacted on the fathers' emotional well-being as described in the themes—constant worries, difficulties with talking about CF, and living from day to day.

Discussion

This study explored fathers' perspectives on the emotional impact of managing the care of their children with CF. The study addresses a gap in the literature since little previous research on fathers specific to the context of CF has been conducted.

The findings have illustrated that fathers are emotionally involved in the care of their children with CF. The fathers' accounts indicated that in managing their children's care, they lived with worries on a daily basis. Similar to fathers of

Conclusion

This article builds on the scant body of knowledge published to date on fathers' perspectives on the emotional impact of caring for their children with CF. Further research is needed to identify what fathers would recommend as helpful to supporting their emotional needs. Through research, fathers can be given a forum to voice their views and concerns, which, in turn, could be used in clinical practice to develop supportive interventions that are tailored to their needs.

Acknowledgment

Claire Hayes is thankful to the fathers for taking the time to participate in this study and for sharing their experiences of caring for their children with CF. This study was funded by the Health Research Board, Ireland, through a Research Fellowship awarded to Claire Hayes.

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ArticlesFathers’ Perspectives on the Emotional Impact of Managing the Care of Their Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Section snippets

Background

Methodology

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgment

Nurse Education Today

Journal of Cystic Fibrosis

Journal of Pediatrics

Journal of Pediatric Nursing

Fathers of children with cancer: A descriptive study of their stressors and coping strategies

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing

The process of empowerment in mothers of chronically ill children

Journal of Advanced Nursing

Stresses and coping of mothers living with a child with cystic fibrosis: Implications for nursing professionals

Journal of Advanced Nursing

Articles
Fathers’ Perspectives on the Emotional Impact of Managing the Care of Their Children With Cystic Fibrosis