The Family Experience of Living with Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Study of Two Families

The diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) affects not only the well-being of the individual with the condition, but also the well-being of other family members and the family as a whole. Our understanding of the family experience of living with CF is limited. Much of the existing research has focused on the experiences of individual family members, rather than the family as a whole. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the family experience of living with a child that has CF. The guiding framework for the study was the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents from two families living with CF. Findings from this study illustrate how important it is for nurses and other health care providers to recognize that no two families living with CF have the exact same experience. Each family goes through their own unique journey. How a family responds to the ongoing challenges associated with raising a child with CF will depend on factors such as age of the child, number of children, work status of parents and family variables like family demands, family appraisal, family resources, and family problem-solving and coping. Nurses who understand this will provide a better quality of care, which will lead to greater patient and family satisfaction, as well as increased job satisfaction for the nurse.Bachelor of Scienc