2009 Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 18-26
The purposes of this study were to explain how public health nurses (PHNs) assist family members in providing care for children with chronically illness or disabilities, and to investigate PHNs' perceptions of partnerships with family members and collaboration of caring among other professionals. Subjects were 159 PHNs work at public health centers and at municipal health centers in one prefecture. Data were collected using a questionnaire created for this study. The data indicated that PHNs felt difficult to involve in family members deeply, to obtain an understanding and cooperation from family members and to coordinate relationship between other professionals and family members. In particular, there were many cases of family members in providing care for children with developmental disorder. However, some PHNs reported that they managed to establish closer relationship by spending more time with families. Although many PHNs recognized the importance of establishing partnerships with family members and collaboration of caring among other professionals, because of characteristic of children's disorder. In conclusion, the results suggest that it is necessary to establish support systems that continuously support family members and to provide opportunities for improving PHNs' knowledge and skills.
