“I have to be brave” – parents’ experiences of caring for a child with eczema

ABSTRACT

Eczema can have profoundly negative effects on the lives of affected children and their families. Having observed parents’ difficulties in a hospital setting, this practice-research study sought to explore parents’ experiences in caring for a child with eczema. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents whose children attended a dermatology clinic in Singapore and ‘Framework’ approach was employed for data analysis. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Eczema – Living with it; (2) Managing child’s eczema – tasks and responsibilities; (3) Shifting illness-related responsibilities – supporting effective self-management; and (4) Parental support needs. The chronic-relapsing skin condition entails complex management tasks that shift between parent and child as the latter assumes autonomy during adolescence. Parents face challenges during this transition. This study highlights the areas that social work practitioners need to respond to when tailoring interventions for parents and children with eczema.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality of life
• atopic dermatitis
• visual methods
• multi-methods qualitative research
• parents

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all of the parents who gave up their time to be part of this study. We also acknowledge our fellow social workers - Alvin, Nadia, Peck Yong and Pearlynn - who were involved in data collection and provided valuable input during the data analysis process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

The data that support the findings of this study are available on reasonable request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to avoid any potential for participants to be identified.

Contributions

JC led the conceptualisation and design of the broader study. All three authors conducted the interviews and were involved in the data analysis. CC prepared the manuscript and JC provided critical revision of intellectual content for all versions of the manuscript. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Mrs Lee Choon Guan Endowed Research Fund (grand reference number: LCG2018-01

Notes on contributors

Christine Chua

Christine Chua, Principal Medical Social Worker. Christine has been working at the MSW Department (MSW) in KKH since graduating from the National University of Singapore (NUS) several years ago. With an MSc in Social Work Research from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, in 2014, she provides support to her social work colleagues in developing and executing their research projects. Her research interest is in pediatric chronic illnesses and she leans towards qualitative methodologies.

Judith Chew

Dr Judith Chew, Master Medical Social Worker. Dr Chew oversees vital research studies in the MSW Department at KKH. She has led several projects relating to individual and family resilience, and pertaining to issues relating to women’s and children’s health, adolescence issues, child abuse and neglect, and young mothers in Singapore. In 2009, Dr Chew received a MSc in Evidence-based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and obtained a PhD in Social Work from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom in 2016.

Winnie Lim

Winnie Lim, Senior Medical Socialr, BA in Social Work from NUS. Winnie has a deep passion for oncology and palliative work and has been actively involved in Advanced Care Planning (ACP) Communities of Practice working withother facilitators from the various hospitals and in the community to enhance ACP work in Singapore. Winnie has more than six years of experience in facilitating group work and workshops.