RESUMEN
Primary purpose: Child acquired brain injury has significant impact on the family, including siblings. This study aimed to explore siblings' experiences of their relationship with their brother or sister with acquired brain injury in order to make recommendations for health professionals working with this population.Research design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five siblings of children with acquired brain injury aged between 9 and 12 years and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: The analysis resulted in four themes: (i) Coping with "a nightmare that you live"; (ii) Disconnection from family relationships; (iii) My sibling is different but "still the same underneath all this thing"; and (iv) Changing togetherness.Conclusions: The siblings in this study experienced a high level of distress with the near loss of their brother or sister. This was followed by difficulty in adjusting to the physical and psychological changes in their injured sibling and the impact on their sibling role and relationship. The changes were experienced alongside disruption to family relationships. Important clinical implications include the inclusion of siblings in their injured sibling's care and the provision of information and support for this group.Implications for RehabilitationSiblings of children with an acquired brain injury experience significant challenges while trying to adapt to their changing sibling relationship and feelings of disconnection with their family.This study highlights a need to work systemically with families of childhood brain injury and recognize siblings' important role in their family unit and therefore involve them in their brother/sister's care and rehabilitation.This study also highlights a need to support siblings to cope with the trauma and provide information to validate and understand their experience.
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Psicológica , Lesiones Encefálicas , Salud de la Familia , Hermanos/psicología , Adolescente , Lesiones Encefálicas/psicología , Lesiones Encefálicas/rehabilitación , Niño , Emociones , Relaciones Familiares , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Distrés Psicológico , Investigación Cualitativa , Relaciones entre HermanosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and then synthesize the qualitative literature on the experience of parenting a child with an acquired brain injury (ABI). DESIGN: Systematic literature review and meta-synthesis Methods. A systematic search of the literature was conducted in four databases. Papers which met the inclusion criterion were assessed for quality using the Critical Skills Appraisal Programme (CASP) tool and then synthesized according to Noblit and Hare's (1988) guidelines for meta-ethnography. RESULTS: Of the 4855 papers retrieved, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Synthesis resulted in three themes: (1) Disconnection: Cut off from internal emotions and isolated from others; (2) Seeking understanding and support to manage in an insecure world; and (3) New parent to a different child. CONCLUSIONS: Having a child with an ABI leads to many challenges for parents. These include feeling insecure, isolated from others and struggling to adapt to the different roles required to parent their different child. Clinical implications highlight the need for specialist support that is ongoing after discharge, including specialist knowledge and understanding of ABI and opportunities for peer support.