Impact on the family of children who are technology dependent and cared for in the home.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the impact on family of four categories of technology-dependent children.


METHODS
A purposive sample of families receiving both public and private services in 13 cities representing census regions included 848 primary caregivers of technology-dependent children ages 3 months to 19 years being cared for at home. A structured telephone interview was used.


RESULTS
A significant difference among the four types of technology dependency for impact on the family was found (MANOVA F test = 9.43; p = 0.0001). One-way ANOVA F tests showed that the means among the four groups varied on the subscale: financial burden, family social impact, and personal strains.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have implications for nurses who provide support and assistance to families with technology-dependent children.
Fleming
J
J
Challela
M
M
Eland
J
J
Hornick
R
R
Johnson
P
P
Martinson
I
I
Nativio
D
D
Nokes
K
K
Riddle
I
I
Steele
N
N
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D008875:Middle Aged