Abstract
This phenomenological study examined the experience of being the father of a child with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Two interviews were conducted with 6 English-speaking, biological fathers whose children with CP (ages 5Y27 years) were enrolled in a residential and day school in northeastern United States. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted using van Manen's methodology. Themes identified were as follows: Lost in birth; My beautiful unique child; Illness as a way of lifeIyou can't get used to it and after a while it feels like no one cares; PartnersVloyalty and commitment; How the world receives my child; Healthcare providersVI'm here; TornIwhen your child can't live at homeIfinding a place to live and grow; and Faith. Clinicians should encourage, value, and include fathers' input during discussions of medical and social problems and when developing long-term care plans. Further research exploring the experiences of fathers of children with CP should be conducted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 36-42 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Neuroscience Nursing |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Feb 2012 |
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Appreciating life : Being the father of a child with severe cerebral palsy. / Appelbaum, Michelle Gellman; Smolowitz, Janice.
In: Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, Vol. 44, No. 1, 01.02.2012, p. 36-42.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Appreciating life
T2 - Being the father of a child with severe cerebral palsy
AU - Appelbaum, Michelle Gellman
AU - Smolowitz, Janice
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - This phenomenological study examined the experience of being the father of a child with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Two interviews were conducted with 6 English-speaking, biological fathers whose children with CP (ages 5Y27 years) were enrolled in a residential and day school in northeastern United States. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted using van Manen's methodology. Themes identified were as follows: Lost in birth; My beautiful unique child; Illness as a way of lifeIyou can't get used to it and after a while it feels like no one cares; PartnersVloyalty and commitment; How the world receives my child; Healthcare providersVI'm here; TornIwhen your child can't live at homeIfinding a place to live and grow; and Faith. Clinicians should encourage, value, and include fathers' input during discussions of medical and social problems and when developing long-term care plans. Further research exploring the experiences of fathers of children with CP should be conducted.
AB - This phenomenological study examined the experience of being the father of a child with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Two interviews were conducted with 6 English-speaking, biological fathers whose children with CP (ages 5Y27 years) were enrolled in a residential and day school in northeastern United States. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted using van Manen's methodology. Themes identified were as follows: Lost in birth; My beautiful unique child; Illness as a way of lifeIyou can't get used to it and after a while it feels like no one cares; PartnersVloyalty and commitment; How the world receives my child; Healthcare providersVI'm here; TornIwhen your child can't live at homeIfinding a place to live and grow; and Faith. Clinicians should encourage, value, and include fathers' input during discussions of medical and social problems and when developing long-term care plans. Further research exploring the experiences of fathers of children with CP should be conducted.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84856348392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JNN.0b013e31823ae4de
DO - 10.1097/JNN.0b013e31823ae4de
M3 - Review article
VL - 44
SP - 36
EP - 42
JO - Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
JF - Journal of Neuroscience Nursing
SN - 0888-0395
IS - 1
ER -