Women, Families, Chronic Illness, and Nursing Interventions: From Burden to Balance

Abstract

This article reports on a grounded theory study designed to explore both the process and outcomes of nursing interventions offered within a particular nursing practice tofamilies experiencing difficulties with chronic illness. As is often the case when doing grounded theory, the research question changed in response to the relevancies drawnforth during the research process. Thus, the study became a much broader exploration of what happens to and for women when a chronic illness enters the family. Five families, consisting of 14family members, participated. Data included transcriptions of research conversations, videotapes of therapeutic sessions, outcome studies completed after therapeutic work was finished, and field notes. Analysis resulted in a four-stage theory of the women's evolving relationships with the family member called "chronic illness," that encompasses the process and outcomes of intervention."