Family Caregivers’ Experiences of Caring for Children With Cerebral Palsy in China: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Zhi-Hong Ni, Sheng Ding, Jin Hua Wu, Shuo Zhang, Chun Yan Liu
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate family caregivers' experiences of caring for children with cerebral palsy in China. This study used a descriptive qualitative design. We selected 18 family caregivers from 3 children's hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China, using a purposive sampling method. The following 5 themes emerged as needs of family caregivers' experiences of caring for children with cerebral palsy: overall responsibility, being alone, exhaustion from caring, being a prisoner of life, and uncertainty regarding the future. The findings of our research contribute to a better understanding of the life situation of family caregivers of children with cerebral palsy as we identify the difficulties they experience as well as their specific needs.