'Being a Good Parent' for Seriously Ill Children in Brazil: A Qualitative Semantic Analysis.
Fernanda Machado Silva-Rodrigues, Pamela S Hinds, Maiara Rodrigues Dos Santos and 2 others
PMID 40785588WHAT IT FOUND
Parents defined being a good parent as physical and emotional presence, protection, and maintaining family unity.
They asked staff for vigilance, clear information, and flexibility to help them stay involved. These beliefs varied individually rather than following one standard pattern.
Key findings
01Most parents (80%) defined being a good parent primarily as being physically and emotionally present for their child.
02Parents asked healthcare professionals to support their role by being vigilant, providing clear information, and showing flexibility regarding their circumstances.
03The definitions of a good parent were highly individualized, with many specific behaviours cited by only two or three parents.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 15 parents from a single hospital in Brazil, which limits how much these findings can be applied to other settings or cultures. The sample was heavily skewed towards mothers (13 of 15), so the perspectives of fathers are underrepresented. Parents experiencing high emotional vulnerability were excluded, which may have removed the voices of those struggling the most. The qualitative design identifies themes and language patterns but cannot measure the impact of nursing interventions on parental well-being or child outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the themes of 'good parenting' found in this small Brazilian sample as a universal standard for all parents. The study shows that definitions are highly individualized and culturally specific, so nurses should ask each family what support they need rather than assuming a single model of family-centred care.