Abstract
Felt or enacted criticism was identified as a significant influence on White British parents’ decision making during acute childhood illness in a substantive grounded theory “Containing acute childhood illness within family life.” These parents sought to avoid further criticism, sometimes leading to delayed consultation. Using Glaserian grounded theory principles, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from three studies, to establish the transferability and modifiability of the original theory to other settings and communities in Ireland and England. Felt or enacted criticism was found to operate across the childhood age range, social groups, and settings. Parent’s strategies to avoid criticism reduced contacts with health professionals, access to support and, more worryingly, communication about their child’s health. These findings demonstrate the wider applicability, or “work” in Glaser’s terms, of the concept in the English speaking Western world. Findings indicate the need for nurses to identify and mitigate sources of criticism.
Highlights
Felt or enacted criticism (FEC) has been identified as having a significant influence on parents’ decision making when seeking help for an acutely sick child at home in the White British population (Neill, Cowley, & Williams, 2013)
The concept of FEC was identified as a key causal category in the substantive grounded theory (SGT) “Containing acute childhood illness within family life” (Neill, 2010)
This SGT was identified in a grounded theory study of family management of acute childhood illness at home, involving 29 interviews with 15 White British families of children 0 to 9 years of age in the United Kingdom (Neill, 2008)
Summary
Felt or enacted criticism (FEC) has been identified as having a significant influence on parents’ decision making when seeking help for an acutely sick child at home in the White British population (Neill, Cowley, & Williams, 2013). The concept of FEC was identified as a key causal category in the substantive grounded theory (SGT) “Containing acute childhood illness within family life” (Neill, 2010). This SGT was identified in a grounded theory study of family management of acute childhood illness at home, involving 29 interviews with 15 White British families of children 0 to 9 years of age in the United Kingdom (Neill, 2008) In this article, the latter is referred to as the original study. It leads to a fear of such criticism, experienced as a hidden anxiety around any decisions to ask others for advice; those in positions of authority such as nurses and doctors Such anxiety can lead to delayed consultation and increased morbidity for the child (Neill et al, 2013). ISRs are ambiguous in modern life (Williams, 2000) adding to parents’ hidden anxiety as they can never assume that ISRs will be similar in any given health care encounter
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
