The purpose of this study was to identify the level of distress and posttraumatic growth in fathers of chronically ill children and also, to identify the relation between characteristics of the fathers and children and their posttraumatic growth and to investigate factors that influence posttraumatic growth.

In this study, 48 fathers who visited a university hospital in Seoul, Korea and who gave written consent completed the questionnaire between September 23 and November 19, 2013. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

The level of distress in fathers of chronically ill children was relatively high and the majority of them were experiencing posttraumatic growth. Models including the variable (deliberate rumination, religiousness, optimism) explained 64.3% (F=26.38, p< .001) of the variance for posttraumatic growth. Deliberate rumination (β=.59, p< .001) was the most influential factor.

The findings demonstrate that it is essential for nurses to intervene and facilitate continuously so as to promote posttraumatic growth and relieve distress in fathers of chronically ill children. Furthermore, it is also necessary for nurses to find ways to develop ideal interventions to activate deliberate rumination and offer spiritual care and help maintain optimism in these individuals.

This study was conducted to identify the effects of newborn care education for fathers on their knowledge and confidence in newborn care at postpartum one month.

A nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design was used. The participants were 53 first-time fathers of newborns, 27 in experimental group, and 26 in control group. They were recruited at the nursery of one municipal hospital in Seoul. For the experimental group, a 50-minute education on newborn care using video, verbal education, demonstration and practice were provided prior to discharge. Fathers' knowledge and confidence in newborn care and their satisfaction with the education program were measured at postpartum one month.

The fathers in the experimental group showed significantly higher knowledge (t=-4.51, p<.001), and confidence in newborn care (t=-2.29, p=.026) compared to the control group at postpartum one month. Fathers in the experimental group had a satisfaction score of 27.37±2.73 immediately after the education, and 25.30±3.40 at postpartum one month.

Results indicate that newborn care education for first-time fathers is an effective method in enhancing the level of knowledge and confidence in newborn care. It can be used in the nursery department before discharge as a useful nursing intervention.