The “Growing Family Strengths Programme” : development of a nurse led, home based, early intervention to enhance resilience in parents of children with complex health needs

• Main Author: McCloskey, Sharon Elizabeth Ann
• Published: Ulster University 2017
• Subjects: 362.19892
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.725122

Background: Globally, government strategy recognises that parents of children with complex health needs experience additional demands and require support to maintain their wellbeing. Enhancing resilience provides a pathway to influence wellbeing. Currently there are no theoretically driven interventions targeting resilience in these parents. This study addresses this gap. Aim: To develop and validate an intervention to enhance resilience in parents of children with complex health needs. Methods: A four stage study guided by the Medical Research Council’s (2008) framework. Stage 1) a systematic review of current evidence relating to resilience theory and group interventions targeting resilience in this population; stage 2) a qualitative study to inform the intervention’s design; stage 3) development of the intervention; stage 4) a qualitative study to face validate the intervention. Nineteen parents and 21 healthcare professionals recruited from 2 Health and Social Care Trusts and one voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland participated in Stages 2 and 4. Thematic content analysis was applied to data collected through interviews, focus groups and workshops. Key findings: Parent narratives aligned with resilience theories reflecting the demands experienced and the strategies used to offset demands. Key themes included 1) the journey: 2) diminishing circles of support and 3) the impact of professionals on family life. The proposed design, a structured group intervention was of limited appeal and was therefore amended, becoming the “Growing Family Strengths Programme”, an early intervention initiative to be delivered by skilled professionals with parents in their own home. Face validation (Stage 4) assessment confirmed support for the re-design. Conclusions: Resilience theory provides a relevant framework to develop interventions to promote wellbeing. Assisting parents to navigate their world is a critical resilience enhancing process. Core professionals are well placed to assist families but require additional training. Developing practitioner skills through the programme and integrating resilience enhancing activities into practice holds promise as a means of enhancing resilience capacity in these parents.