Gaining control: parents' experiences of accommodating children's asthma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Qualitative Health Research
• Chronic Illness Management

Background:

• Parental experiences with childhood asthma are complex.
• Effective management requires parents to adapt and gain control over the illness.
• Understanding parents' perspectives is crucial for developing supportive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parents' lived experiences in managing their child's asthma.
• To identify the process parents undergo to become effective asthma managers.
• To inform nursing interventions for supporting families with pediatric asthma.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1991).
• In-depth interviews conducted with 39 parents of children with severe asthma.
• Thematic analysis to uncover the basic social process of gaining control.

Main Results:

• Parents progress through three distinct phases: 'being out of control,' 'being involved,' and 'being in control.'
• 'Being out of control' involves seeking help and making sense of the situation.
• 'Being involved' includes trying new strategies and making changes.
• 'Being in control' signifies taking charge, forming alliances, and achieving competence in managing the child's asthma.

Conclusions:

• Parents' journey toward managing childhood asthma is a process of gaining control.
• Interventions can be designed to support parents through these phases of asthma management.
• Nurses can play a vital role in facilitating parents' transition to effective asthma management.