Parenting a child at home with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: experiences of commitment, of stress, and of love.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the experiences of parenting a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome after the child has been discharged home from hospital.

DESIGN

A study of the parents' experiences using face-to-face interviews and psychometric measures with parents whose child had survived stage surgery.

SETTING

Parents were interviewed within the home environment or within the hospital if that was their choice.

SUBJECTS: A total of 29 parents (16 mothers and 13 fathers) of surviving children. Intervention A semi-structured face-to-face interview plus psychometric tests (parent demographics, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Impact on Family Scale, and the Psychological Check List - Civilian). Measurements and main results The parents' experience in supporting a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is one of stress, of commitment, and of love. Although parents experienced joy in their child, they were also subjected to anxiety with four parents test positive to post-traumatic stress disorder and hypervigilance while monitoring their child's condition. Parents lived with many difficulties, and demands.