Researching and determining the processes of parents dealing with their child's diagnosis of cerebral palsy is an important element in providing appropriate assistance and support to parents and to the whole family of a child with cerebral palsy. By identifying the process characteristics, which most parents go through, faced with newly diagnosed cerebral palsy of a child, we can better understand the situation of the parents, the impact on them and on the whole family of the child with cerebral palsy. Parents being successful or less successful in dealing with their child's diagnosis can significantly affect the life of parents, the dynamics of the family, marriages of parents, etc. The purpose of our master's thesis is, on the basis of the obtained empirical results, to formulate an aid scheme for parents who are in the initial stages of dealing with the child's diagnosis. The interviews conducted with the parents of children with cerebral palsy give us a closer insight into their needs. We were interested to know how and with what feelings these parents face over the period preceding and following the diagnosis; from whom they receive the greatest support and what kind of support they need most at the time; which period is the most difficult for them; what kind of experience they have in informing their relatives and friends of the child's diagnosis; what feelings they experience when dealing with others’ reactions to the diagnosis; what kind of support they receive from societies; which societies they are members of. A total of 59 parents were surveyed and being interviewed. The parents come from the Slovenian regions of Podravje, Osrednjeslovenska, Savinjska, Primorsko-notranjska or Obalno-kraška, Posavska, Koroška.
It was noted that over the period preceding and following the diagnosis parents experience emotional distress to the greatest extent with many different intense feelings. These feelings are somewhat more intense in the post-diagnosis period of the cerebral palsy of the child. Problem-solving oriented strategies were used over the period preceding and following the diagnosis by the majority of parents. Very few parents avoided the situation and reacted with denial to the confrontation.
We observed that the majority of parents received support and assistance from specialist staff and therapists, followed immediately by support and help from their partner and relatives. Parents were mostly grateful for the information they received (concerning the child's situation, child support ...).
We have noted that parents mostly seek the help of specialist staff to help them face the diagnosis of the child, which is being closely followed by the need to talk and moral support, clear and real information relating to the child's diagnosis.
Post-diagnosis period is proving more difficult for parents than pre-diagnosis period. We conclude that the diagnosis is interpreted as finality, something that is confirmed. Consequently, they lose hope they had before confirming the diagnosis.
A large majority of parents talk about positive experiences about accepting a child's diagnosis by their relatives and friends. Additionally, it has been noted that close relatives experience similar emotional reactions to the diagnosis of the child as his parents. To a lesser extent, the whole situation was most difficult to accept by the children's grandparents, and a low number of relatives did not accept the child's diagnosis.
In most cases, parents of children with cerebral palsy have gained positive experiences with the responses and reactions of other people to child's condition. However, some parents received negative experiences from older people. A very low number of parents have only negative experience with others’ reactions.
Health therapy family treatment stays were highlighted as a source of help and support from societies by the most of parents. The other help they receive from societies is the sharing of information and experience, contacting parents and families of children with cerebral palsy, the possibility of therapy for the child, lectures and workshops for parents, etc. Most parents of children with cerebral palsy are members of various support associations.
The difference between parents who have one child with cerebral palsy and those with more than one child is statistically significant (p = 0.00). Parents with multiple children are more likely to be less successful in giving attention, time and child-raising to all their children compared to parents who have only a child with cerebral palsy. Parents with multiple children need to organize themselves exceptionally well and take care of time management and education among children, so that others should not be left behind at the expense of a child with cerebral palsy and vice versa.
The results obtained served as a starting point for the creation of an aid scheme in the form of guidelines for parents of children with cerebral palsy in the initial stages of diagnosis.
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