2017 Volume 26 Pages 65-71
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to clarify nurses’ interactions with children with multiple disabilities and with their families during periodic respite hospitalization to coordinate their homecare.
Method: This study used Leininger’s Ethnonursing. Participant observation sessions and interviews were conducted at a pediatric ward and the results were analyzed. Seven nurses participated as key informants while seven children with multiple disabilities undergoing respite hospitalization, seven family members, and two doctors were the general informants.
Results: Five sub-themes which become a basis of one main theme were derived. Main theme: Nurses observed the physical condition of children and the burdens carried by their families during respite hospitalization, they identified the care required for each child at home in the period until the next respite hospitalization. And then, the nurses assisted the families to formulate details of home care to enable the children and their families to continue living together.
Discussion: Periodic respite hospitalization was found to be an opportunity to explore appropriate care for children and families whose situation keeps changing, and to create a new care method while respecting the families’ own approach.
