The Experiences of Maternal Care-giving for Children Undergoing Liver Transplantation - A Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative research was to explore the experiences of maternal care-giving for children undergoing liver transplantation due to biliary atresia. Three voluntary mothers were recruited from a medical center in central Taiwan. Each participant was interviewed three to four times and each interview lasted thirty to sixty minutes. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed and data analysis was guided by the hermeneutic circle. Three aspects were emerged from the mothers' caregiving experiences. The first aspect was named “before liver transplantation” and was characterized by accepting the child's disease, learning and integrating new knowledge and skills into daily care-giving. Self-questioning her own caring ability, and striving for hope of a successful liver transplant. The second aspect was named “during liver transplantation and hospitalization” and was characterized by feeling helpless whilst waiting outside the operation room, and difficulties in satisfying the donor's and the recipient's needs simultaneously and preserving a high quality of care for her child in the intensive care unit, and concern for an individualized care of her children. The final aspect was named “after liver transplantation” and was characterized by lacking complete support health professionals, being protective of the child, and feeling grateful that the child regained health. Implications for clinical practice are discussed in terms of the assessment of the mothers' apprehension and needs. Appreciation of the mother's motivation to dedicate herself to care-giving for her child is realized by understanding what matters and concerns her during the process of caring.