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Siblings of children with chronic kidney disease: A qualitative study of everyday life experiences
Author(s) -
Agerskov Hanne,
Thiesson Helle C.,
Pedersen Birthe D.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of renal care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.381
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1755-6686
pISSN - 1755-6678
DOI - 10.1111/jorc.12389
Subject(s) - loneliness , sibling , feeling , medicine , everyday life , qualitative research , kidney disease , meaning (existential) , narrative , disease , developmental psychology , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , psychotherapist , social science , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , sociology , political science , law
Background Chronic kidney disease in children has an impact on all family members. Healthy siblings, in particular, may experience negative psychological and emotional symptoms. Little attention has been paid to how they experience everyday family life and the impact of their sibling's disease. Objectives To explore perspectives on and experiences of everyday life among siblings of children with chronic kidney disease. Design An explorative study with a qualitative method. Participants Seven siblings (7–13 years) of children with chronic kidney disease (5–16 years) were included. Approach The study took a phenomenological–hermeneutical approach. Semistructured individual interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using Ricoeur's theory of narrative and interpretation, on three levels: naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion. Findings Three themes emerged: The illness is in the background or comes to the fore, being concerned for and taking care of the sick sibling and the importance of bonds with relatives or other significant adults. Conclusion In everyday life, participants experienced that their sick sibling's illness was either in the background or came to the fore. They needed to adapt to periods of hospitalisation. They felt a need to be attentive to, take care of and have concern for the sick brother or sister. Conflicts caused feelings of loneliness; however, having knowledge about the disease provided security and meaning. Being introduced to the healthcare professionals was significant. It was important to have close relationships with friends and other adults, which gave rise to feelings of self‐confidence and being supported.