My child you must have patience and Kreng Jai : Thai parents and child pain
Date
2012
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Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
Abstract
Purpose: To elicit the experiences of parents in providing care for their hospitalized
child’s acute pain needs.
Design: Phenomenology, using in-depth interviews with 45 parents whose
children were being cared for in five hospitals in Northeastern (Isan) Thailand.
Findings: The findings address Thai cultural beliefs regarding the experience
of pain and the role societal expectations have on parental behavior in trying
to meet their child’s acute pain needs. Two themes emerged– “Understanding
my child’s pain: it’s karma” and “Maintaining Kreng Jai”– which identify parent
beliefs toward pain and pain treatment, as well as perceived barriers in securing
pain management for their children. Together these two themes describe the
essence of this study as parents experienced an “inner struggle in providing
pain care.” Pain was perceived as an inescapable part of life, and participants
identified a preference for traditional remedies. Parents experienced a tension
as they wanted to provide and secure pain care for their child but at the same
time were reticent to approach staff with concerns about their child’s care.
Conclusions: Thai parents viewed pain as a normal consequence of life, and
one had to use traditional remedies in addition to medicine to successfully
treat pain. Societal behavioral expectations required children to have patience.
Nevertheless, parents wanted professionals to show more empathy and provide
more effective pain care.
Clinical Relevance: Improvements in pediatric pain care must formally include
parents. Culturally sensitive approaches that do not stereotype parents
and children are needed to ensure that evidence-informed pain care is available
for all children.
Description
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Keywords
PEDIATRIC PAIN, FAMILY NURSING, LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES, DESCRIPTIVE PHENOMENOLOGY, CULTURAL NURSING, ACUTE PAIN, THAILAND, PAIN MANAGEMENT, HEALTH BELIEF, YOUTH HEALTH
Citation
Jongudomkarn, D., Forgeron, P.A., Siripul, P., & Finley, G.A. (2012). My Child You Must Have Patience and Kreng Jai: Thai Parents and Child Pain. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44, 232-331.doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01467.x