Parental concerns following a child's discharge from a bone marrow transplant unit

Furthering the understanding of parent-child relationships: a nursing scholarship review series. Part 4: parent-child relationships at risk

PURPOSE

The purpose of this integrative review is to synthesize nursing scholarship on parent-child relationships considered fragile because of parent-child's chronic condition or occurrence within a risky context.

CONCLUSIONS

Most reviewed studies demonstrated negative effects of risk conditions on parent-child relationships and documented importance of child, parent, and contextual variables. Studies were predominately single investigations. Varying theoretical perspectives complicated interpretation. Mainly White, middle-class, and small samples limited generalizability. Important areas for further research were identified.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurse researchers identified factors that may interfere with the parent-child relationship. Nurses are in a position to support families under these circumstances.

A brief report of caregiver needs and resource utilization during pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is used to eradicate disease and restore normal hematopoietic, immunologic, and/or metabolic functioning. HSCT is a complex treatment that is physiologically and psychologically demanding on the recipient, caregiver, and family. The purpose of this study was to identify needs and resources of family caregivers of pediatric HSCT recipients during the first year after transplant. Parental caregivers (n = 161) completed an online survey. The most cited sources of information were the HSCT team (87.7%), books and other print materials (83.1%), and the Internet (81.5%). However, more than half of the respondents reported that finding resources and services was a problem. More than half identified managing the emotional and social impact of the transplant on their child, posttransplant and follow-up care, practical strategies for caregiving, maintaining the family, and taking care of themselves during this first year as important topics to address. Adequately and regularly assessing caregiver and family needs and providing resources to meet those needs, especially during transitions in care, are important components of transplant care.

Bone marrow transplant today--home tomorrow: ambulatory care issues in pediatric marrow transplantation

Pediatric marrow transplantation is now an accepted and increasingly successful intensive therapy for a wide range of disorders in children. Supportive therapies that were once thought to be possible only in the acute care setting can now be safely managed in the outpatient arena. This shift is influenced by scientific and patient care advances and by managed care and cost containment trends. The purpose of this article is to examine the interrelated aspects of change in health care delivery and their impact on pediatric bone marrow transplant recipients and families. Nurses working in all aspects of pediatric marrow transplantation have an opportunity and responsibility to impact quality patient care in the outpatient setting.