"A remarkable experience of god, shaping us as a family": parents' use of faith following child's rare disease diagnosis

A child's chronic illness can lead parents to utilize different types of coping, including religious beliefs and practices. Previous studies have generally focused on life-shortening diagnoses. The present study explored parental use of faith when the diagnosis was not life-shortening, using grounded-theory qualitative methodology. Data were collected using semi-structured telephone interviews with N = 12 parents of children diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Hyperplasia of Infancy (NEHI); approximately 50% of the diagnosed population in the United States at the time of the interview. Participants used faith to cope and make meaning in five ways: parents believed NEHI happened for a reason; beliefs provided resilience; parents were sustained by faith communities; beliefs affected parents' behavior; and beliefs developed over time. The results suggest that chaplains develop means for universal screening for spiritual struggle; educating congregational clergy how to support families in which a child has a chronic illness; and assisting parents construct meaning of their experience.

Social work and medical care: electronic reminders to address adherence

Social workers are often involved with patients and families around adherence, both to clinic appointments as well as to the medication regimen. An evidence-based practice project was created and implemented to determine the efficacy of electronic reminders such as text messaging on adherence. The implications of improving adherence can positively impact the patient on an individual level as well as reduce costs and increase revenue at a systems level.