Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Felt or enacted criticism theory - a contribution to the understanding of parents' decision making in acute childhood illness at home

Neill, S. and Cowley, S. (2011) Felt or enacted criticism theory - a contribution to the understanding of parents' decision making in acute childhood illness at home. Paper presented to: Australian College of Children and Young People's Nurses (ACCYPN) Inaugural Conference, Sydney, Australia, 19-21 October 2011. (Unpublished)

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Abstract: Aim: Parents' experience considerable anxiety concerning when to seek help for a sick child. This paper explores findings, from a doctoral research project, which contribute to the understanding of parents' decision making at these times. Method: This grounded theory study used 24 in-depth interviews in 4 rounds of data collection to explore psychosocial processes in 15 families when children are acutely ill at home. Analysis followed the tenets of Glaserian grounded theory methodology until theoretical saturation was reached. Results: Families strive to 'do the right thing' for their child, and to 'contain acute childhood illness within family life' - the core category of the grounded theory. Informal social rules regarding expected behaviour are learnt through 'felt or enacted criticism' during parent's encounters with others, when their children are ill. Consequently parents take action to avoid exposure to such negative scrutiny, sometimes resulting in late consultation for more serious illness. Conclusions: The findings indicate a need to develop professionals' skills in facilitating family care through positive learning experiences rather than felt or enacted criticism. Take home message: Health care professionals need to identify and reduce felt or enacted criticism experienced by families when seeking help for a sick child so that families help seeking behaviour can be positively enhanced
Subjects: R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ370 Diseases of children and adolescents
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ245 Nursing of children. Pediatric nursing
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Creators: Neill, Sarah and Cowley, Sarah
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Nursing
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Nursing
Date: 19 October 2011
Date Type: Presentation
Event Title: Australian College of Children and Young People's Nurses (ACCYPN) Inaugural Conference
Event Dates: 19-21 October 2011
Event Location: Sydney, Australia
Event Type: Conference
Language: English
Status: Unpublished
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4045

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item