Brief report: competence, value and enjoyment of childcare activities undertaken by parents of children with complex needs

Purpose: Parents combine many roles when caring for a child with complex needs, but few studies measure parental value and enjoyment of childcare related activities. This study aimed to describe parental competence, enjoyment and value of childcare related activities, particularly healthcare related activities, when parenting a child with complex needs.

Design and Methods: This was a pilot cross sectional study. Ten mothers of children with complex needs rated their competence, value and enjoyment of 156 childcare related activities using the Occupational Questionnaire (Smith, Kielhofner, & Hawkins Watts, 1986).

Results: The mothers rated childcare related activities as important and rated themselves as competent to undertake them. Mothers disliked performing healthcare related activities, but enjoyed emotional care activities.

Conclusion: This study extends the current knowledge regarding the role tension described by parents of children with complex needs. The finding that parents dislike performing healthcare related activities despite self-reporting high levels of competence warrants further investigation.

Practice Implications: Gaining a better understanding of the role tension described by parents of children with complex needs may enable pediatric nurses to better understand the impact of home based care provision on parents and assist them to find ways to support families so this care can continue to be provided.