Advanced Knowledge in Nursing Practice Can Make the Difference: The Value of a Nursing Intervention for Families of Children with Rare Chronic Illnesses

The purpose of this pilot nursing intervention study was to measure the benefit of one short term family therapeutic conversation, which is based on the Calgary family assessment- and interventions models. Parents of children with rare chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, IgA deficiency and arthritis were invited to participate. Quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design was conducted to explore the impact for parents of one short term therapeutic conversation. Participants were 30 parents of 30 children with rare chronic illnesses; 15 parents in the experimental group (EG) and 15 in the control group (CG). Parents in both groups answered a questionnaire, on perceived family support both before the nursing intervention and again 3–5 days later after the intervention. Data was analysed using Chi-square and independent sample t-test. Main findings indicated significant difference between the groups. Parents of children with epilepsy, arthritis and IgA deficiency, perceived significantly more support after the intervention than parents of children with the same diseases who received treatment as usual (TAU). These research findings emphasize the benefit of the short term therapautic conversation intervention for families of children with rare chronic illnesses.