Parent/carer experiences of children's treatment with frames V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the experiences of parents/carers of children undergoing limb reconstruction treatment with external fixators? A phenomenological study. Lay Title: What are the experiences of parents/carers of children who have recently had or are having treatment with "frames"?
IRAS ID
231640
Contact name
Antonia Beringer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 27 days
Research summary
This qualitative research study will explore the experiences of parents/carers of children who have recently undergone or are currently undergoing treatment with external fixators (frames) at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. This is surgical treatment involving skeletal fixation, where percutaneous screws and wires are placed in the bone, connected to external elements. These can be slowly manipulated to correct congenital and acquired lower limb deformities and shortening. They can also be used for complex fracture stabilisation. Treatment time can be prolonged and difficult with frequent complications. The psychological and psychosocial impact of the treatment can be significant and treatment involves disruption to the child’s education and family life. Research carried out in this area has adopted a quantitative or mixed methods approach in design arising from the discipline of medicine/psychology and focused on technical aspects, complications and measurable outcomes. There is limited research focusing on the impact of this treatment on families. A decade of supporting children and their families through this challenging treatment has led me to seek to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of these families whilst undergoing this treatment by undertaking this research. The study will use a qualitative interpretive research design based on a phenomenological approach to explore the “lived experience” of families undergoing this treatment. The primary method of data collection will be in-depth interviews with parents /carers to gain a shared understanding of the phenomenon. The sample number will be 10 participants. Interviews will take place in the parent/carer home, in the hospital setting or over the telephone. Interviews will be transcribed and analysed. It is hoped that the shared understandings generated will inform and add to the body of multi-professional knowledge surrounding children and families' experiences of this treatment as well as long term conditions with surgical interventions.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0397
Date of REC Opinion
20 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion