In this ethnographic study, the authors examined the experiences and perspectives of children hospitalized because of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), their parents, and pediatric health care providers. The sample included 5 children, 10 parents, and 8 health care providers who were directly affected by SARS during the time of the outbreaks and extreme infection control procedures. The data analyses illuminated a range of perceived experiences for this triadic sample. Issues related to social isolation due to infection control precautions were predominant. Themes included emotional upheaval, communication challenges, and changes in parental and professional roles. These findings reveal the cogent effects of SARS on family-centered care. The notion of providing family-centered care within an environment plagued by an infectious outbreak suggests an ominously difficult task. Efforts must be made to optimize family-centered care despite obstacles. The authors suggest effective clinical approaches in the event of future outbreaks.
Alsop-Shields, L., & Mohay, H. (2001). John Bowlby and James Robertson: Theorists, scientists and crusaders for improvements in the care of children in hospital. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 35, 50-58.
2.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2003). Family-centered care and the pediatrician's role. Pediatrics, 112(3), 691-697.
3.
Bitnun, A., Upton, A., Heurter, H., King, S. M., Opavsky, M. A., Ford-Jones, E. L., et al. (2003). Children hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome-related illness in Toronto. Pediatrics, 112(4), e261-e268.
4.
Bowlby, J. (1960). Separation anxiety. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 41, 89-113.
5.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. New York: Basic Books.
6.
Braithwaite, M. (1974). Sick kids: The story of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Toronto, Canada: McClelland & Stewart.
7.
Bradley, S. (2001). Suffer the little children: The influence of nurses and parents in the evolution of open visiting in children's wards 1940-1970. International History of Nursing Journal, 6, 44-51.
8.
Bruce, B.,& Ritchie, J. (1997). Nurses' practices and perceptions of family-centered care. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 12(4), 214-222.
9.
Christensen, P., & James, A. (2000). Research with children: Perspectives and practices. London: Falmer.
10.
Docherty, S.,& Sandelowski, M. (1999). Focus on qualitative methods: Interviewing children. Research in Nursing & Health, 22, 177-185.
11.
Dwosh, H. A., Hong, H., Austgarden, D., Herman, S., & Schabas, R. (2003). Identification and containment of an outbreak of SARS in a community hospital. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(11), 1-6.
12.
Gammon, J. (1999). The psychological consequences of source isolation: Areview of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 13-21.
13.
Hanson, J. L.,& Randall, V. F. (1999). Evaluating and improving the practice of family-centered care. Pediatric Nursing, 25(4), 445-449.
14.
Institute for Family-Centered Care. (2004). What is family-centered care? Retrieved September 16, 2004, from http://www.familycenteredcare.org
15.
Kitchen, B. E. (2005). Family-centered care: Acase study. Journal of Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 10(2), 93-97.
16.
Lawlor, M. C., & Mattingly, C. F. (1998). The complexities embedded in family-centered care. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(4), 259-267.
17.
Maunder, R., Hunter, J., Vincent, L., Bennett, J., Peladeau, N., Leszcz, M., et al. (2003). The immediate psychological and occupational impact of the 2003SARS outbreak in a teaching hospital. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(10), 1-7.
18.
McCracken, G. (1988). The long interview. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
19.
McDermott, R. P. (1976). Kids make sense: An ethnographic account of the interactional management of success and failure in one first grade classroom. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.
20.
Ministry of Health. (1959). The welfare of children in hospitals. London: HMSO.
21.
Newton, M. S. (2000). Family centered care: Current realities in parent participation. Pediatric Nursing, 26(2), 164-168.
22.
Nicholas, D. B.,& Koller, D. (2003). The experience of SARS from a pediatric perspective. Update, Apublication by The Ontario Respiratory Care Society, 19(3), 10-10. Retrieved October 21, 2005, from http://www.on.lung.ca/orcs/orcs_files/Update_v19-n3_f03.pdf
23.
Partridge, T. (2001). Children in accident and emergency: Seen but not heard?Journal of Child Health Care, 5(2), 49-53.
24.
Punch, S. (2002). Interviewing strategies with young people: The “secret box,” stimulus materials and task-based activities. Children & Society, 16, 45-56.
25.
Rees, D. H. (2000). Psychological effects of isolation nursing. Nursing Standard, 4(28), 35-38.
26.
Robertson, J. (1958). Young children in hospitals. New York: Basic Books.
27.
Schabas, R. (2003). SARS: Prudence, not panic. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 168(11), 1-2.
28.
Schor, E. L. (2003). Family pediatrics: Report of the Task Force on the Family. Pediatrics, 111, 1539-1571.
29.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
30.
Weissbourd, B. (1994). The evolution of the family resource movement. In S. Kagan & B. Weissbourd (Eds.), Putting families first: American's family support movement and the challenge of change (pp. 29-36). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
31.
World Health Organization. (2004). WHO guidelines for global surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Retrieved August 15, 2005, from http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_CDS_CSR_ARO_2004_1/en/index
