Abstract
This study sheds light on the thoughts and experiences of the siblings of medical care children and examines the kind of support they require. Semistructured interviews were conducted with adolescent brothers and sisters of children requiring medical care. From the interview data, 4 categories (14 subcategories) were extracted with regard to the thought of having a sibling that needs medical care: gratitude and dilemma for family, expectation for social resources, love and disgust for siblings, and responsibility and anxiety for the future. Meanwhile, 5 categories (21 subcategories) were obtained with respect to the experience of having a sibling requiring medical care: consideration and conflict with family, desire and concern for the mother, joy and stress of having a compatriot, gratitude and sympathy for those around us, and everyday awareness of surroundings. Siblings of medical care children have different experiences in terms of their relationships with family, friends, and local people, and they have positive and negative thoughts and aspirations for their siblings, family, and society. They need direct support to encourage the expression of thoughts by listening to the pain and dissatisfaction, and relation to their siblings who need medical care as well as their entire family.
