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Communication and Uncertainty in Illness: The Struggle for Parents to Assign Meaning to an “Orphan” Illness

Rankin, Anna M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276527383

Abstract Details

2010, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Communication.
This study explored the uncertainty experienced by parents of children with hemangiomas and vascular malformations (HVMs)—commonly known as birthmarks. Because HVMs do not belong to one specific discipline, they might be considered an “orphan” illness. The complexities of this condition impact parents’ experiences with complex uncertainty. Thirteen months of participant-observation combined with a survey approach were utilized to assess the uncertainty of parents and their communication with physicians at an HVM clinic. Two Communication theories – Babrow’s (1992) Problematic Integration Theory and Brashers et al.’s (2000) Communicative Management of Uncertainty Theory – and Mishel’s (1988) Uncertainty in Illness Theory, were used as theoretical frameworks to interpret results. The findings of this study highlight the interwoven uncertainties posed by “orphan” illnesses and how they influence parents’ communication and their ability to assign meaning to the illness experience. These complexities also suggest that existing measurement scales may not well operationalize the multilayered and complicated nature of uncertainty experienced by parents. Finally, the study suggests that existing theories on of illness uncertainty might be expanded to include unique uncertainties of “orphan” illnesses and distinctive characteristics surrounding parental uncertainty.
Stephen Haas, PhD (Committee Chair)
Teresa Chandler Sabourin, PhD (Committee Member)
Heather Zoller, PhD (Committee Member)
108 p.
Mass Media
Communication; Uncertainty; Illness Uncertainty; Physician-Patient; Physician-Parent-Child; Parents

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rankin, A. M. (2010). Communication and Uncertainty in Illness: The Struggle for Parents to Assign Meaning to an “Orphan” Illness [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276527383

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rankin, Anna. Communication and Uncertainty in Illness: The Struggle for Parents to Assign Meaning to an “Orphan” Illness. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276527383.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rankin, Anna. "Communication and Uncertainty in Illness: The Struggle for Parents to Assign Meaning to an “Orphan” Illness." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1276527383

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1276527383
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.