2022 Volume 31 Pages 35-44
Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify how visiting nurses understand the physical and mental condition of parents of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities at home who need medical care, and the support provided by visiting nurses to maintain the physical and mental condition of parents. Methods: A qualitative descriptive research method was used. Study participants comprised 10 nurses who provide care for children with motor and intellectual disabilities who need medical care at home. Individual semi-structure interviews based on an interview guide were used to collect data. Results: Four categories about understanding the physical and mental condition of parents were extracted: “Understanding the amount of care parents have”, “Understanding the ease of fluctuations in parents’ physical and mental condition in daily life”, “Recognizing parents’ physical and mental condition by sensitively detecting unusual situations”, and “Discovering the story of parents’ physical and mental condition in a natural conversation”. Four categories about actual support were also extracted: “Rejuvenating parents physically and mentally”, “Encouraging parents to improve their physical and mental condition”, “Establishing a support system”, and “Respecting and being close to parents’ feelings”. Conclusion: Visiting nurses need to detect the physical and mental condition of parents of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and establish a support system to avoid parents having excessive care burden. Additionally, it is important for visiting nurses to help parents control their own physical and mental condition.
