Experience of children with medical technology-dependent siblings at home: A qualitative study

The study examined the experiences of children with siblings dependent on medical technology using a qualitative analysis method. The study was conducted with siblings of children dependent on medical technology who were discharged from the palliative service of Mersin City Hospital between March 2024 and November 2024. 15 siblings were included in the study. The interviews with the siblings were conducted face-to-face in their home environment by taking voice recordings. The conversation during the interview was recorded and the recordings were deciphered after the interview. After the deciphering, the data of the study were analyzed using the MAXQDA 22 analysis program for coding, creating themes, and the relationship between codes and subcodes. In line with the data obtained from the interviews of the children included in the study, seven themes and 49 codes were obtained, namely "emotional impact", "physical impact", "family relationship", "difficulty in social relationships", "social support", "emergency situations encountered" and "thoughts about the future". The experiences of the siblings were examined with the findings obtained. As a result of this study, it was determined that siblings most often experience 'sadness, anxiety and worry' emotionally. It was observed that there were changes in the daily routines of the siblings, their care burden increased, physical comfort deteriorations, fatigue and insomnia. It was observed that the siblings' social relationships deteriorated, they hid the sibling, could not go out, could not leave the sibling alone. Siblings usually encountered emergencies and expressed that they were afraid when they first encountered them. Siblings reported that they felt uncertainty and fear of losing the sick sibling about the future. As a result of this study, it was determined that children with siblings connected to medical technology experience emotional, social and physical difficulties. In this direction, it can be recommended to implement nursing interventions that include siblings according to family-centered care principles. Keywords: Medical technology, sibling, child, experience