FAMILY WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS: ADAPTATION AND CHALLENGES
Abstract: Living with a
chronic illness surely can affect clients and their families. Family capacity
to adapt successfully can be quite different depend on characteristic of
chronic illness and family perception about the illness. Consideration of the
family’s view of illness support health care professionals in finding the best
resources to assist family with chronic illness. The aim of this study was to
describe impact of chronic illness to clients and their family. This research
use a qualitative design with descriptive phenomenological approach. Using
purposive-sampling, eight families living with chronic illness were
participated in this study. Colaizzi’s method which involving participants to validate
results was used in the research. The theme of this study are changes in the
patient's health status, family system changes and family difficulties in
maintenance tasks. Conclusion of this research is that family members are the
biggest support to motivate clients and also challenged as they strive to
assist member diagnosed with chronic condition to stay healthy. Involving
clients and families in the decision making support the efforts of families in
their self-management of chronic illness. Thus nurses could provide family
counseling to strengthen family coping and capacity by providing family with
adequate information about illness.
Keyword: Chronic illness,
family challenge, family adaptation
Penulis: Annisa Wuri Kartika,
Wiwin Wiarsih, Henny Permatasari
Kode Jurnal: jpkeperawatandd170097
