Factors that promote and threaten Hope in caregivers of children with chronic conditions.
Nayara Luiza Henriques, Juliana Barony da Silva, Zaida Borges Charepe and 2 others
PMID 37194892WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of children with chronic conditions described Hope as sustained by family support, spiritual faith, and seeing their child reach milestones.
Hope was threatened by conflicting relationships, fear of the child's death, and feeling unable to provide care.
Key findings
01Family members, spouses, friends, and other parents of children with chronic conditions were identified as primary sources of practical and emotional support that promote Hope.
02Spiritual beliefs, prayer, and the perception of a divine purpose were reported by caregivers as crucial factors for maintaining Hope and strength.
03Hope was threatened by conflictual close relationships, derogatory remarks about the child's potential, and fears regarding the child's death or disease progression.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study only included the main family caregiver, excluding other family members who might offer different perspectives on Hope. The sample was predominantly female (91.3% mothers), which may limit the generalizability of findings to fathers or other caregivers. The cross-sectional nature of the interviews means Hope was assessed at one point in time, rather than across the trajectory of the child's condition.
Declared interests
The research was funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) in Brazil and Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS) in Portugal. No conflicts of interest regarding commercial products were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the themes as evidence that specific nursing interventions increase Hope. This study describes caregivers' perceptions of factors associated with Hope but does not test any intervention or measure outcomes.