Children’s conceptions of their parent’s lung transplant

Abstract

There has been no research that has investigated the psychosocial impact on children whose parents have undergone a lung transplant. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe children’s concerns and understandings of their parent’s transplant surgery. Artwork was used as a creative medium to enable children to portray their experiences in a safe, non-threatening environment. This was used as a visual primer for follow-up interviews. All children expressed similar and complementary views about uncertainty and anxiety, separation, disruption to family life, their desire for normality, and the importance of social support. Differences were evident in the way that some children managed well by adapting to the changing situations, whereas others tended towards avoidance. The findings provide several themes that may be used as a framework for family support and counselling by nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals who are caring for patients and their families during the transplant process.