2021 Volume 30 Pages 52-60
Chronic functional constipation is a common childhood health problem and places a heavy burden on the child’s parents. To manage constipation, not only is giving appropriate medication vital, but it is also important to change the child’s behavior that avoids defecation. However, the distinct defecation behavior of children confuses their parents, making it difficult for them to deal with it. This study aimed to explore how parents shifted their perceptions and coped with their child’s constipation following nursing intervention. The subjects included four children with constipation and their parents. The study was multiple case study, using interviews, and observation to discover the effects of nursing intervention. Parents tried to cope with child’s painful defecation without appropriate medical support. With prolonged constipation, parents had negative perceptions of constipation, blaming themselves or their children for the causing constipation. In contrast, parents with not much experience in dealing with their child’s constipation were unconcerned and insensitive to the needs of the child. These interfered with the child-parent interactions about defecation. Nursing interventions were intended to share the child’s learning process regarding their sensation and perception of defecation with their parents. Through these interventions, the parents acquired the skills to capture their child’s cues in defecation and how to cope with them. This resulted in a gradually more responsive interaction between parents and their children’s defecation.
