Continuing Nursing Education
Cybersupport: Empowering Asthma Caregivers
Claire F. Sullivan
In
the United States, an estimated 6.5 million children have asthma
(Akinbami, 2005). Due to the chronic and unpredictable nature of
asthma, the condition places excessive demands on the primary
caregiver. The complexity of asthma management has required parents to
take increased responsibility for the assessment and treatment of their
child’s asthma (Dickinson & Dignam, 2002). Many families are
turning to the Internet for information and support. The purpose of
this study was to gain insight into the “lived” experiences of an
online asthma caregivers support group. Archived messages posted to an
online discussion list were analyzed using phenomenological thematic
analysis. Five themes emerged providing insight into the meaning of
caregiving and the provision of social support. Online support
narratives provide a unique way to gain insight and understanding of
the experiences of mother’s enacting the caregiver role. Understanding
the everyday lives of asthma caregivers can help nurses and other
health care providers better meet caregiver needs.
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