This is the second part of a study that is following eight Swedish fathers of very
preterm children using qualitative interviews. The aim was to illuminate fathers'
lived experience of the 3 years since the birth of their very preterm child using a hermeneutic phenomenological
method. The fathers described their lived experience as a process of reorganizing
life, which constituted the overarching theme. They described a journey from the past
to the present in which they adapted ordinary family life. The sub-themes identified
were struggling to endure, experiencing empowerment, and building a secure base. The
results may serve as a basis for neonatal staff to optimize care for both fathers
and mothers during the child's hospitalization, as well as subsequent to their discharge.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 18, 2013
Accepted:
October 18,
2013
Received in revised form:
October 12,
2013
Received:
February 19,
2012
Footnotes
1Authors' contribution: PL and IH designed the study. PL collected the data. PL and IH performed the data analysis, discussing the results with LHW through the process. LHW helped to draft the manuscript. All three authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
