title: A pilot study using electronic communication in home healthcare: implications on parental well-being and satisfaction caring for medically fragile children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a nurse-established and nurse-managed electronic communication in the form of e-mail on the self-reported well-being and satisfaction of parent's caring for medically fragile and technologically dependent children. This study was conducted in a pediatric home care agency located in the southeastern region of the United States. Nineteen parents and caregivers participated in a 3-month intervention. A quasiexperimental pre- and posttest design was used. There were no significant differences in pre- and postintervention parental self-reported well-being (p < .227) or satisfaction (p < .528). Parental qualitative comments suggest positive outcomes related to well-being and satisfaction. Further investigation into the utility of e-mail communication with parents of medically fragile and technologically dependent children cared for at home is warranted.
authors.affiliation: ECPI University Medical Careers Institute, School of Health Sciences, Virginia Beach, Virgina, USA. thaney@ecpi.edu
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haney
authors.forename: Kimberly Adams
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Tufts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult