title: Parental coping with childhood hospitalization: a theoretical framework to guide research and clinical interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although previous studies have demonstrated the value of psychologically preparing parents for their children's hospitalizations, there is only speculation regarding the coping processes by which clinical interventions have exerted their effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper presents a long-needed theoretical framework to guide research and informational interventions with parents of hospitalized children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prior work by this author has provided empirical support for the proposed theoretical framework.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated testing of the proposed framework could build a scientific body of knowledge for pediatric nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Dentistry, NY, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Melnyk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015399:Nursing Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing