title: How a family is affected when a child is born with anorectal malformation. Interviews with three patients and their parents.
abstract: Increased knowledge about families with a malformed child affects nursing practice. This study illuminates the experiences and psychosocial situation of 3 patients with imperforate anus and their parents. A qualitative method has been used to analyze the data. We found that the parents' experiences of suffering were overwhelming and that the 3 patients had been depressed during periods. The patients were not as open as their parents; we need to devise better tools to explore and understand children's experiences. The children and their parents need special care and an opportunity to express their anxieties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. margret.nisell@ks.se
authors.forename: Margret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nisell
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ojmyr-Joelsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frenckner
authors.forename: Per-Anders
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rydelius
authors.forename: Kyllike
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christensson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000298:Adolescent, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden