Published online Apr 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i11.2478
Peer-review started: August 13, 2020
First decision: December 14, 2020
Revised: December 28, 2020
Accepted: January 27, 2021
Article in press: January 27, 2021
Published online: April 16, 2021
Processing time: 231 Days and 22.1 Hours
Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. Since the self-management of children with T1DM is a tedious and demanding care task, it is extremely challenging for the parents and their children. Parents of children with T1DM are troubled by various needs of the child's diabetes management. Under the specific background of family, education, medical care, etc. in China, the parents' experience of caring for their children with T1DM at different stages of the disease need to be discussed in depth to assist and support parents in adapting to their parental caregiver roles.
As a lifelong disease, the disease management of T1DM is long-term and arduous. Children's families, especially their parents, are the main caregivers of children. it is necessary to explore the physical and psychological needs of parents of children with T1DM after diagnosis and the changes of their needs in different stages of care, so as to assist and support parents to adapt to their role changes and improve the quality of care of children with T1DM.
This research aimed to describe the real inner feelings and care experience of parents in the process of caring for children with T1DM, and to explore the categories and themes of care needs of parents of children with T1DM.
Descriptive research methods were used to classify and summarize parents' experience when adapting to the role of caregivers for children with T1DM. The data was sorted and analyzed using content analysis. Themes of parents' experience caring for children with T1DM were refined, and their feelings were deeply investigated.
A total of 4 themes and 12 subthemes were identified: Desire for information, skill guidance needs, seeking emotional support, and lack of social support.
Exploring the true experience of parents caring for children with T1DM is of great significance for helping them adapt to their role as caregivers. Nurses should provide professional guidance in terms of information, skills, emotion, and social support to parental caregivers.
The care experience of parents of children with T1DM is staged and individualized. Nurses should provide professional guidance in different stages and in a planned way, which can help parents with T1DM adapt to the roles of their caregivers.