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Journal of Child Health Care
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The Family Life-path Theory: a Tool for Nurses Working in Partnership with Families

Pirkko Jokinen, RN, PhD

School of Health Professions, Savonia Polytechnic, Finland pirkko.jokinen{at}savonia-amk.fi

The purpose of this article is to describe the family life-path theory. The theory may offer nurses an alternative model for use in working in partnership with the family of a child with a long-term illness. It is important that nurses have a deep understanding of a family’s everyday life. The better nurses know the family and the context in which it lives, the more individual advice and coping strategies that they are able to find in partnership with a family, and thus to support the family in achieving a good quality of life. The theory describes the life of a family of a child with asthma as a lifepath. The dimensions of the family’s life-path are environment, the child’s becoming ill, the family’s view of health, their attitude towards illness, everyday routines and social network. The unpredictability of asthma, optimism about the future and normalization of life are factors that guide families towards achievement of a good quality of life for their child.

Key Words: life-path theory • family nursing • family nursing assessment tool • long-term illness

Journal of Child Health Care, Vol. 8, No. 2, 124-133 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1367493504041871
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