title: Parents' experiences of hope following a child's brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the lived experiences of parents caring for their child following a severe to moderate acquired brain injury (ABI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was used and the research set within the naturalistic paradigm. Eight parents were identified using purposive sampling. Each parent was interviewed on a one-to-one basis using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were typed up verbatim and the data were analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Every parent acknowledged the need to maintain hope. The other themes identified were: the effects on the child post ABI, the need for accurate information, emotional support, effects on the family, fear of death, transition, family accommodation and funding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following a childhood brain injury it is important that parents can maintain a sense of hope and receive emotional support and accurate information. Staff could use these research findings to increase their awareness and inform their own practice.
authors.affiliation: Children's Trust, Tadworth, Surrey.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bray
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: acquired brain injury; brain injuries; child health; family-centred care; hope; neurology; nursing