Background: Fathers are increasingly providing substantial amounts of technical and nursing care to growing\r\nnumbers of children with complex healthcare needs. This exploratory study reports some of the first in-depth\r\nevidence of fathers� experiences and presents a research agenda in this critically under-researched area.\r\nMethods: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 8 fathers who provided a substantial amount of\r\ncomplex technical and nursing care for their child at home. The aim was to describe their experiences of fathering,\r\nparenting and caring. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using Burnard�s approach, which has\r\ncommonalities with phenomenological and content analysis.\r\nResults and Discussion: Fathers enjoyed their caring role and found it rewarding and at times stressful. They\r\ninstituted structured regimes, which focused on the father/child/family. Performing intimate care posed specific\r\nchallenges for which there is no guidance. Children�s community nursing was highly valued. Fathers generally\r\nrejected the need for specific father-focussed services, as such provision would induce guilt feelings. Fathers\r\nreported positive relationships with their children and partners.\r\nConclusions: Key areas for future exploration include gaining a better understanding of fathers� motivations and\r\nstyles of caring, developing interventions to support fathers� caring role, developing guidance on intimate care, and\r\ndelivering tailored services to fathers in a family context. There is little understanding of fathering and caring by\r\nnon-resident, teenage and step-fathers. Finally, knowing more about resilience and coping of fathers in strong\r\nrelationships with partners and children may help inform interventions to support fathers who do not feel able to\r\nstay with their family.
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