It has been pointed out that differences in family functioning exist between families with a hospitalized child and families with children in the same locale. However, scales of family functioning for families with a hospitalized child have yet to be developed. The aim of this study was to develop a Family Functioning Scale for Families with a Hospitalized Child (FFHC) and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

Items were selected through previous studies on family functioning and literature reviews concerning families with a hospitalized child, from which the FFHC was constructed. It is structured as a self-administered questionnaire composed of 19 items. Face validity was confirmed by three researchers. For the preparation, a questionnaire survey was conducted for families with a hospitalized child at a single pediatric ward. After we revised this FFHC, a survey was conducted via the internet to evaluate the reliability and validity. The participants were families with a hospitalized child who was under twelve years of age.

When the FFHC was administered to mothers, significant differences were observed between good and poor groups for all items in the good-poor analysis. No significant correlation was observed between FFHC and Japanese-language Version I of the Feetham Family Functioning Survey (FFFS-JA). Having examined the construct validity, two factors were obtained from exploratory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was .96, showing high internal consistency reliability. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was .42 at about a 2-week interval, showing moderate correlation.

It was indicated that the FFHC enables nurses to assess satisfaction of family functioning for families with a hospitalized child. The FFHC can be expected to contribute to further research and family support.

This study aims to clarify the effect of taking family photographs in the Growing Care Unit (GCU) on parental feelings. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the parents who had their first child discharged from the GCU. Most parents had a positive feeling about taking and seeing family photographs. Although there were no significant differences between mothers and fathers, the parents of children born at earlier birth weeks tended to have a more positive impact. By analyzing the answers to three questions, “How did you feel when you first saw your family photographs?”-“What did you talk about when you saw your family photographs with your wife or husband?”-“Can you raise any reasons why you think it is a good or bad idea to continue to do family photographs?” Ninety-two comments were extracted, and 22 subcategories and six categories were elicited. From these results, even though they had ambivalent feelings, taking family photographs created positive feelings in the parents by interacting with their children. They were [Impressed by the power of their child’s life]. Moreover, from their answers, [I recognized the role of the parent] or [Taking family photographs was a good experience], we assumed that family photographs had influenced family interaction and acquisition of parental roles.

They also commented [We imagined what it would be like as a family], [Encouraged by the desire to be with my child]. Feeling close to their children made their emotional distance closer, providing an opportunity to increase communication between the couple. In addition, parents want to look back on the path from the perinatal period of their children, accept it positively, and share it with their children in the future. Therefore, taking family photographs may have the effect of [Strengthening the family ties from the past to the future].

Purpose: Qualitative research on the experiences of family surrogate decision-makers and family nursing in critical care were analyzed to examine the relationship between the experiences of families and family nursing.

Methods: Six articles on selected family experiences and six on family nursing were used as primary sources, and the relationships were modeled using meta-analysis.

Results: Five categories of family experiences in critical care and six categories of family support were extracted. In the “relationship model,” family members performed surrogate decision-making while [sensing the worst and feeling fear, but holding out hope], [discerning the meaning of the patient’s life and his/her will, and continuing to question the pros and cons of the decision].

The nurses [had conversations that elicited the family’s thoughts and ideas and allowed emotional exchanges], [accepted the wavering of decisions and allowed the patient and his/her family to share memories, space, time, and care], and [assessed the family’s abilities to form opinions and make adjustments regarding the backgrounds and future lives of family members].

Discussion: The “relational model” expressed the following:(1) the family’s attitude of continuous questioning of the [discovery of meaning and intention of the patient’s life], which has an ethical aspect;(2) interactions involving a series of conversations, with the nurse [eliciting the family’s thoughts and ideas and emotional exchanges];(3) facilitating interactions so that the family can form opinions by [considering their background and future life and making adjustments]. In general, it became clear that family support along with circular interactions is important for family nursing in critical care.

Objective: It is important that men begin to nurture fatherhood during the pregnancy period and that they develop a high attachment to the fetus, as this is associated with better bonding with the new baby. Although there are many studies that define “paternal consciousness” and “father’s role,” there are no studies that define only during pregnancy, nor are there any studies that clearly conceptualize “gestational fatherhood.” This purpose of the present study is to develop a clear definition of the notion through conceptual analysis.

Methods: The study utilizes the evolutionary concept analysis approach proposed by Rodgers (2000). The authors searched five databases for relevant literature: Ichushi Web, CiNii Research, PubMed, CINHAL, and PsycINFO, collecting a total of 30 articles, 14 in Japanese and 16 in English, for analysis.

Results: The researchers extracted six attribute categories including: “responsibility as a father” and “bonding with the fetus”; seven prerequisite categories, including “feeling of closeness to or avoidance of the fetus” and “ideal paternal figure”; and four consequences categories, including “changes in self-concept” and “changes in the marital subsystem.”

Discussion: As a result of the analysis, the authors propose the following redefinition of the concept of “gestational fatherhood”: “Having a sense of responsibility as a father, acquiring the role of father, and imagining himself as a good father and caring for his child, thereby engaging in the behaviors involved in pregnancy and developing an attachment to the fetus.”

Conclusion: It is important to recognize that future perinatal support policies should take into account not only the needs of pregnant women but also the needs of fathers, as well as the social environment; moreover, such policies should provide for appropriate interventions tailored to all family members.

Objective: To clarify the decision-making process through a case study in which a patient in the late pregnancy with cancer makes decisions about cancer treatment, pregnancy continuation, and fertility preservation.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a patient in the late pregnancy with cancer to reflect on decision-making regarding cancer treatment and fertility preservation. An analysis was performed based on SCAT to extract texts about the decision-making process by the patient and her family, conceptualize them, and describe the storyline.

Results: The female patient, in her 30s, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 8 months of gestation. After a normal delivery, she received a mastectomy and assisted reproductive technology. Twenty-five themes were extracted regarding the decision-making process. Her and her husband’s work experience in the health care field helped them to calmly accept their situation. Because the patient had [continuation of the intention about the next child while concerns about the anti-cancer drug treatment on fertility] [concerns about the effects of the anti-cancer drug treatment on child rearing], [maternity nursing support for breastfeeding and coordinated care from her breast surgeon] as well as [guidance on newborn care for her husband] were provided. As a result, the patient [decided to take initiative to collect and integrate appropriate information]. With support from her husband and [a coordinated referral by medical staff], the patient received assisted reproductive technology for fertility preservation.

Discussion: The decision-making process was complex, involving a multidisciplinary team and family members with diverse opinions. With appropriate support from her family and care team, the patient decided to take initiative to collect and integrate information and made informed choices about treatment and fertility preservation.