The Family Management Styles Framework as A Tool for Tailoring Interventions for Pediatric Transplant Recipients and Their Families: A Case Study

The aim of this research study was to explore family management in pediatric liver transplantation. This qualitative case study research project used a hybrid model of thematic analysis methodology and employed the Family Management Style Framework (FMSF) as the theoretical framework. Four families of transplanted children who were outpatients in a public hospital in Brazil were analyzed in depth through interviews and analysis of medical records in the parent study. In this article, the case of 1 of those families is presented. The results show that the family defines the condition as threatening, and has dichotomous feelings about the child’s identity, sometimes seen as “special” and other times as “like any other child.” The family’s perceived consequences, one of the FMSF dimensions, bring uncertainty about the future as an important issue that deserves nursing attention. A deeper understanding of family management can promote informed discussions about the best interventions for this and other similarly affected families. The use of the FMSF in evaluating family management in pediatric transplantation and other chronic pediatric conditions can aid pediatric nurses and other nursing professionals in planning tailored interventions that maximize patient and family outcomes.