Publication
The role of nurses in parents' help-seeking and support-seeking behaviors in pediatric palliative care: A qualitative study
Kulcu D, Kurekci C, Yaman Z, Altintas M · Journal of Pediatric Nursing · 2026
Purpose This study aimed to explore parents' help-seeking behaviors in pediatric palliative care and the role of nurses in this process. Design and methods This descriptive qualitative study included 15 parents of children hospitalized in a pediatric palliative care unit. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and evaluated using thematic analysis. Results Thematic analysis identified six themes: emotional experiences of palliative care, caregiver burden, coping strategies, support networks, the role of nursing support, and help-seeking dynamics. Nurses strengthened parents' confidence and self-efficacy through empathetic communication, guidance, and education, facilitating parents' help-seeking behaviors. Conclusions Parents experience substantial emotional and social burdens during pediatric palliative care. Nursing support and family resources play a critical role in facilitating parents' adjustment and coping during this process. Practice implications Pediatric nurses should develop care approaches that facilitate parents' help-seeking behaviors by holistically assessing parents' emotional burden, coping needs and support networks.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.