Work

Parents’ Experiences of Holding Their Child for Healthcare Procedures: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: To explore parents' experiences of holding children for healthcare procedures in an Australian paediatric hospital setting. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken at a paediatric tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of children who had undergone a procedure during their hospital admission. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Eight parents were interviewed, with four themes becoming apparent from their experiences, representing the multiple roles parents undertook when holding their child for a procedure. Parent as a protector was identified as the overarching role, with all roles involving aspects of parents protecting their child. The remaining roles included comforter-where parents supported their child by providing reassurance and being present; helper-where parents actively sought a role or stepped up to assist during a procedure and enforcer-where at times parents had a belief that to facilitate some procedures holding was necessary. A sliding-scale schema illustrates that these roles are not static, but rather positioned along a continuum, with some parents moving between roles throughout a procedure. CONCLUSION: This study provided valuable insight into the complexity of parents' involvement when supporting their child during a procedure. The varying roles suggest parents balance the desire for their child to feel safe (holding as a comforter) with wanting to get the procedure done (holding as an enforcer). IMPACT: This research impacts clinicians, parents and children involved in healthcare procedures. Clinicians can use the sliding-scale schema that illustrates the distinct roles parents can take on, as a visual tool to promote parental involvement and help parents define their role during a procedure. REPORTING METHOD: Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guideline was utilised when reporting findings. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing

DOI: 10.1111/jan.16935

Authors: Sage Hay, Sharon Kinney, Stacey Richards, Fiona Newall, Meaghan Hawley, Jenny O’Neill

Institutions: Royal Children's Hospital, The University of Melbourne

Language: English

Topic: Pediatric Pain Management Techniques

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,450