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Family caregiver experiences with asthma in school-age children
1Indiana University of PA, Indiana, PA, USA.
Purpose:
To examine family caregiver perspectives and experiences of having a school-age child with asthma.
Method:
Semistructured interview with caregivers of children 6-11 years of age using a grounded theory approach.
Findings:
A theory of the process of becoming a vigilant caregiver was generated. The process of vigilance is three-fold, consisting of a diagnosis phase followed by a battling phase and finally a resolution phase that uses various strategies to minimize the impact of asthma on the child and family.
Conclusions:
This theory of vigilance is useful for health care workers seeking to understand families' experiences with asthma. Knowledge of families in the process of becoming vigilant may assist nurses in developing and planning interventions to improve the quality of care.