The perceptions of Taiwanese families who have children with learning disability.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the perceptions of families in Taiwan of living with a child who have learning disability and the parents perspectives on the cultural influences on their spiritual experiences.


BACKGROUND
Traditionally, the family is the most important unit of society, family functioning is a key field of interest among helping professionals who provide family interventions.


METHODS
This study adopted qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. The study analysis used content analysis which was a process of identifying, coding and categorizing the themes in the data.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 117 parents in their homes and were interpreted by using content analysis to extract key conceptual themes from the transcribed interview texts.


RESULTS
The findings revealed that the perceptions of families with learning disability children were wide-ranging. The stressors did not occur in a fixed order, they were different in degree and importance from one family to another.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that the experience of analysing qualitative data was extremely valuable for parents in that it aided their own understanding of the real-life experiences of the parents and in coming to know the parents in a richer, more meaningful way. In doing so, nurses need to be aware of their own thoughts and environment without letting it influence others.


CONCLUSIONS
The nurse should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the family's culture and be able to show respect for cultural difference to assess and identify culturally acceptable health-care interventions.
National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan.
Mei-Ying
MY
Chang
Li-Ling
LL
Hsu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D032903:Confucianism; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan