Parent participation. 1: Literature review and methodology

A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken to examine parents' views and experiences of participation in the care of their child in hospital and to identify factors that inhibit or facilitate participation. Parents of children aged 2-5 years of age were interviewed within 2 months of discharge, using tape-recorded, semi-structured interviews. The findings demonstrate that parents clearly wish to participate in their children's care at a level of their own choosing. However, they preferred professionals to be responsible for their children's clinical care, while they continue to be responsible for the children's normal day-to-day care. Problems were identified in the area of relationships between parents and professionals, centred on communication and the continuing paternalistic nature of these relationships. Parents of children who experienced single, short hospital admissions found involvement in their children's care particularly difficult. Guidelines were developed from the results, to facilitate parent participation in the care of children in this age group.