Parental uncertainty and posttraumatic stress in serious childhood illness.
OBJECTIVE
To explicate the link between parental uncertainty and posttraumatic stress as a way to stimulate advancement in the design and evaluation of nursing interventions for parents of children with serious illness.


METHODS
The literature on Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory and its reconceptualization--parental uncertainty in serious childhood illness--and posttraumatic stress are reviewed and synthesized. Pertinent methodological and sociocultural issues are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature indicates support for the theoretical link between parental uncertainty and posttraumatic stress. This linkage provides direction for the design and evaluation of nursing interventions to support parents of children with serious childhood illness.
Santacroce
Sheila Judge
SJ
Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, P.O. Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, USA. sheila.santacroce@yale.edu
D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D035501:Uncertainty