1. "There is a strangeness in this disease": A qualitative study of parents' experiences caring for a child diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Author
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Louie-Poon, Samantha, Reid, Kathy, Appiah, Priscilla O., Hartling, Lisa, and Scott, Shannon D.
- Subjects
CHILD care ,PARENTS ,COVID-19 ,PARENT attitudes ,INFORMATION needs ,THEMATIC analysis - Abstract
Background: The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic marked a period of uncertainty as public health guidelines, diagnostic criteria, and testing protocols or procedures have continuously evolved. Despite the virus being declared a worldwide pandemic, little research has been done to understand how parents manage caring for their child diagnosed with COVID-19. We sought to understand parents' experiences and information need when caring for a child diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study with an inductive and exploratory approach was completed. Participants were recruited through social media and local public health clinics. Data collection and analysis were concurrent. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with 27 participants. Thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: Four major themes emerged: a) dealing with uncertainty; b) anxiety; c) social stigma and stress; d) a sense of community. Conclusion: Our study highlights that parent experiences were diverse and multi-faceted, and their experiences evolved and shifted over the course of the pandemic. Parents would benefit from clear and consistent evidence-based online information. Understanding the perspectives of parents caring for a child with COVID-19 is an important step in developing future resources tailored to meet their unique experiences and information needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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