The experience of families of children with persistent middle ear problems supports the notion that when families become empowered, they manage their own health more effectively. Findings from the present study indicate that families engage in predictable processes of acquiescing, helpless floundering, and becoming experts in their efforts at learning to manage the course of their child's disease symptoms within the context of an often cavalier health care system. Questions are raised about the nature of empowerment and the changing role of the nurse.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anderson, J. .M. (1990). Home care management in chronic illness and the self-care movement: An analysis of ideologies and economic processes influencing policy decisions. Advances in Nursing Science, 12(2), 71-83.
2.
Drew, N. (1986). Exclusion and confirmation: A phenomenology of patients' experiences with caregivers. Image, 18(2), 39-43.
3.
Glaser, B. , (1978). Theoretical sensitivity. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
4.
Glaser, B. , & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine.
5.
Harris, C. , & Stern, P. (1986). Women's health and self-care paradox: Case study and analysis. In P. Stern (Ed.), Women, health and culture (pp. 165-174). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
6.
Labonte, R. (1989). Community and professional empowerment. Canadian Nurse, 85(3), 23-29.
7.
Levin, L. (1990, May). The challenge of chronic conditions. Paper presented at the Conference Health for All: The Challenge of Chronic Conditions.Edmonton, Alberta.
8.
Maglacas, A. (1988). Health for all: Nursing's role. Nursing Outlook, 36, 66-71.
9.
Mintzberg, H. (1975). The manager's job: Folklore or fact. Harvard Business Review, 53(4), 49-61.
10.
Mishel, M. , Hostetter, T., King, C., & Graham, V. (1984). Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in patients newly diagnosed with gynecological cancer. Cancer Nursing, 7, 291-299.
11.
Molde, S. (1986). Understanding patients' agendas. Image, 18(4), 145-147.
12.
Pyles, S. , & Stern, P. (1983). Discovery of nursing gestalt in critical care nursing: The importance of the Gray Gorilla Syndrome?Image15(2), 51-57.
13.
Smyth, G. , & Hall, S. (1983). Aetiology and treatment of persistent middle-ear effusion. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 971085-1089.
14.
Stern, P. N. (1980). Grounded theory methodology: Its uses and processes. Image, 12(1), 20-23.
15.
Stern, P. N. (1989). Are counting and coding a capella appropriate in qualitative research? In J. M. Morse (Ed.), Qualitative nursing research: A contemporary dialogue. Rockville, MD: Aspen.
16.
Stewart, M. (1990). From provider to partner: A conceptual framework for nursing education based on primary health care premises. Advances in Nursing Science, 12(2), 9-27.
17.
Tos, M. (1984). Epidemiology and natural history of secretory otitis media. American Journal of Otology, 5459-462.
18.
Watts, R. (1990). Democratization of health care: Challenge for nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 12(2),37-46.
19.
Wuest, J. , & Stem, P. (1990a). Otitis media with effusion: The family's endless quest for relief. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 13499-513.
20.
Wuest, J. , & Stern, P. (1990b). The impact of fluctuating relationships with the Canadian health care system on family management of otitis media with effusion. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 15556-563.
21.
Zacharakis-Jutz, J. (1988). Post-Freirean adult education: A question of empowerment and power. Adult Education Quarterly, 3941-47.
