Parents' wishes and expectations for children with chronic conditions

This qualitative study investigated the wishes and expectations that parent s had for their children with chronic physical health conditions Participan ts included parents of 21 African American, 20 Hispanic and 22 European Ame rican children. Results indicated that many parents' wishes were specifical ly related to the child's chronic condition, including that the condition w ould not exist, would be cured or would improve. Other wishes focused on th e psychosocial well-being of the child, independent living skills, educatio n, having a finally, behavioural issues, and religion. Although all of the wishes had a positive connotation, some of the expectations were positive a nd others were negative Expectations were about the child's condition, the child's psychosocial well-being independent living skills, education, and s ocial concerns Two characteristics of the chronic conditions, mental retard ation and mobility impairment, affected the types of wishes that parents ha d Differences among the three ethnocultural groups were noted in two types of wishes, education and behavioural issues, as well as in parents' expecta tions about social problems.