Families with children who experienced difficulties i?n hydrocephalus shunt

FAMİLİES WİTH CHİLDREN WHO EXPERİENCED DİFFİCULTİES İN HYDROCEPHALUS SHUNTThis research has been conducted in descriptive and retrospective forms to determine the problems that families with shunted hydrocephalus children go through.Sampling of the research constitutes the families with shunted hydrocephalus children treated at Ankara Training and Research Hospital Department of Neurosurgery.(n:75) Data were collected in the form of questionnaire by talking face to face or on the phone during the months of June and December 2011. Data collected were evaluated through percentage and avarage statistical analysis and also through standart deviation.The avarage age of the families participated in this research was 52,59±40,2 years (2-180 months).We also found that 68% of them were the mother of the child, 76% were housewives and 52% were primary school graduates. The avarage number of children of these families were 2.32± 1.08.The avarage age of the children with shunted hydrocephalus was 52,59±40,2 months, 42.7% were girls, 57.3% were boys, 38.7% were MMC in terms of shunt insertion in etiology. All children had a ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. The shunts of 58% of these children were replaced, and the avarage shants replacement was 2,06± 1,79.The reason of shunt replacement was shunt obstruction (50%).The finds of the research suggest that parents experience the following difficulties; fear of caring shunted child (72%), constipation (70.7%), vomiting and nausing (36%;37.3%),headache (44%), walking disorder (49.3% ),rehabilitation (70.7%). Other difficulties are as follows; unable to ask information from health staff (40%), sleep disorder in hospitals (84%), unable to go outside with the child (86.7%), anxiety (88%).At the end of the study, it?s adviced that families be given consultancy and education about hydrocephalus and shunt.Key Words: Hydrocephalus, Shunt, Family, Child, Difficulties and Nursing