COVID-19 in Western Australia: 'The last straw' and hopes for a 'new normal' for parents of children with long-term conditions
العنوان: | COVID-19 in Western Australia: 'The last straw' and hopes for a 'new normal' for parents of children with long-term conditions |
---|---|
المؤلفون: | Smith, Stephanie, Tallon, Mary, Smith, James, Jones, Lauren, Mörelius, Evalotte, 1965 |
المصدر: | Health Expectations. 26(5):1863-1873 |
مصطلحات موضوعية: | children, chronic, lived experiences, parents' experiences, qualitative, stress, stress coping |
الوصف: | BACKGROUND: Children with long-term conditions are vulnerable due to the treatments required for their conditions. Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Western Australians experienced restrictions that changed daily life activities but were able to return to some of their previous routines due to the restrictions.AIM: The study explored the stress experiences of parents caring for children with long-term conditions during COVID-19 in Western Australia.DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The study was codesigned with a parent representative caring for children with long-term conditions to ensure essential questions were targeted. Twelve parents of children with various long-term conditions were recruited. Ten parents completed the qualitative proforma, and two parents were interviewed in November 2020. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were anonymised and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.FINDINGS: Two themes were produced: (1) 'Keep my child safe' describes the children's vulnerabilities due to their long-term conditions, the adjustments parents' made to keep their children safe and the various consequences faced. (2) 'COVID-19's silver lining' covers the positives of the COVID-19 pandemic, including their children having fewer infections, the availability of telehealth appointments, relationship improvements and the parent's hopes for a new normal where behaviours prevent transmission of infectious (e.g., hand sanitising).CONCLUSION: Western Australia provided a unique context for the COVID-19 pandemic due to no transmission of the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at the time of the study. The tend and befriend theory aids in explaining the parents' stress experiences, and the application highlights a unique aspect of this theory. Parents tended to their children during COVID-19, but many could no longer rely on others for connection, support and respite, and became further isolated in attempting to protect their children due to COVID-19 consequences. The findings highlight that some parents of children with long-term conditions need specific attention during times of pandemics. Further review is recommended to support parents through the impact of COVID-19 and similar crises.PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study was codesigned with an experienced parent representative who was part of the research team and involved throughout the research process to ensure meaningful end-user engagement and ensure essential questions and priorities were addressed. |
وصف الملف: | electronic |
URL الوصول: | https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-195226 https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13792 https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1769337/FULLTEXT02.pdf |
قاعدة البيانات: | SwePub |
تدمد: | 13696513 13697625 |
---|---|
DOI: | 10.1111/hex.13792 |