ABSTRACT
The difference between two main types of direct care activities (doing-for and empowering) is described in Chapter 5. This chapter demonstrates that though the “doing” aspect of caring, such as being good at technical and procedural skills, is important, it is insufficient in and of itself because caring by PHCPs also involves empowering parents. Further, the chapter discusses the importance of recognizing where a family is at in the many transitions that occur over the course of the child’s condition because a family’s place in transition affects whether the doing-for (administering treatments or carrying out procedures, attending to physical care, managing technology, seeking consultation from other professionals, and referring to other services) or the empowerment (sharing information, supporting, navigating, and teaching) activities need to be emphasized. In doing-for, providers do for children/parents what they cannot do for themselves, whereas in empowering providers help parents do for themselves what they want or need to do for their child or for themselves. This chapter clearly describes, including using quotes from the foundational study, how pediatric heath care providers can both do-for and empower parents. Questions and suggestions to encourage development of exemplary interaction are included.
