The care needs of postpartum women taking their first time of doing the month: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: In contemporary Taiwan, after giving birth, many women undertake a traditional postpartum practice called 'doing the month', which occurs in the medical context of postpartum nursing centres instead of at home. Thus, healthcare workers must identify and address the care needs of new mothers in this setting to improve the care of new mothers and their baby and family. AIM: To explore new mothers' care needs from their own perspectives during the period of doing the month. METHODS: A qualitative study was performed. Eligible participants recruited through purposive sampling were interviewed comprehensively. RESULTS: Twenty-seven primiparous women participated (mean age: 32 years; mean marriage length: 3.4 years). Four themes were identified: the need to increase energy to gain more yang force, the need to internalise mothering, the need to be supported by the family and friends, and the need to be understood. CONCLUSIONS: For effective care, sufficient support and guidance must be provided to first-time mothers and their families, especially when mother-baby rooming-in is the standard of care.

Smoking cessation in smoke-free prisons: a grounded theory study.

Purpose Prisoners are vulnerable to tobacco addiction and have a smoking prevalence significantly higher than that of the general community. The context of this study was the implementation of a "smoke-free prisons" policy, which imposed forced smoking cessation onto the Queensland, Australian prison population. The study asked the question: "What are the psychosocial processes in which male prisoners engage during smoking cessation in a smoke-free environment?" Design/methodology/approach Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 prisoners in South-east Queensland smoke-free correctional centres. Grounded theory methodology was applied to construct a theory of the processes of smoking cessation. Findings The constructed theory was named Engaging with Quitting. In this model, prisoners proceed through a cycle of evaluations, adjustments and reflections on their reality as related to the smoke-free prison. The study gives first-hand accounts of the prisoners' use (and abuse) of nicotine replacement therapy. Three personality typologies emerged from the data: The Angry Smoker, the Shifting Opportunist and the Optimistic Quitter. Research limitations/implications This qualitative study makes no claim of generalisability and cannot be taken to represent all prisoners. Females, youths and culturally diverse prisoners were not represented in the sample. Practical implications Smoking cessation in prisons must be recognised as an ongoing process, rather than a discrete event. A coordinated approach between custodial and health authorities is required to minimise maladaptive coping strategies. Originality/value This study provides a descriptive account of the processes prisoners undertake during involuntary smoking cessation and has described the manner in which prisoners manufacture home-made tobacco from nicotine patches. The study has produced an original theory named Engaging with Quitting.

Inside a Postpartum Nursing Center: Tradition and Change.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore how traditional ritual practices are incorporated into the context of contemporary healthcare. METHODS: An ethnographic study was conducted, using observations and interviews with 27 first-time mothers and 3 nurses at a postpartum nursing center in Taipei, Taiwan. RESULTS: Nursing routines, policies and care provision at the center affected the way traditional ritual practices were conducted. New mothers in this study constructed their everyday activities at the center by incorporating and modifying the ritual practices inside and outside the postpartum nursing center setting. CONCLUSIONS: Social changes have an influence on traditional postpartum ritual practices so a postpartum nursing center becomes a choice for postpartum women. Thus, health care professionals should value their own functions and roles at the postpartum nursing center since the new mothers regard them as the primary support resource to help them recover from giving birth. Therefore, they need to re-examine their practices from the postpartum women's perspective to provide better support and sensitive care to postpartum women and their families.

Health literacy of mothers accessing child development services: a model of information use.

This study aimed to explore how mothers use information in home therapy programs within child development services. A grounded theory study using semistructured interviews was conducted with 14 mothers of children aged 3-6 years accessing occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology services for developmental needs. A conceptual model of mothers' information use was developed. Findings showed that the mothers went through a cyclical process of information use and decision making: acquisition (collaboration, learning preferences), appraisal (understanding, relevance), application (capacity, resourcefulness) and review (evaluation, modification), with contextual factors including information characteristics, environment, personal characteristics and relationships. Mothers who used information effectively had a sense of confidence, control and mastery, and were empowered to apply information to make decisions and adapt their child's home therapy. This study adds to knowledge about health literacy, specifically how mothers interpret and use health-related information at home. Findings will enable health professionals to address families' unique health literacy needs and empower them to support their child's optimal development, functioning and participation at their stage of life.

Infection prevention and control in home nursing: case study of four organisations in Australia.

AIM: The aim of this case study was to explore the environmental challenges nurses experience with infection control practice, and the strategies they use to overcome those challenges. METHOD: An exploratory case study was conducted in four home visiting nursing organisations in southeast Queensland, Australia, using data triangulation (document review, individual interviews, and focus groups). Data were analysed using a framework approach to identify themes. RESULTS: Three major infection prevention and control challenges were experienced in the community context. The first challenge is the nature of the work environment, including: poor cleanliness in clients' home environments, pets or vermin, inadequate hand-washing facilities, and a lack of appropriate storage space for clinical materials. The second challenge occurs when nurses lack access to appropriate infection control equipment, including wound-management materials and sharps containers. The third challenge is dealing with clients' poor personal hygiene and health status. Participants addressed these issues by offering assistance, using clean surfaces at clients' homes, applying an alcohol-based hand rub, providing client education, and reducing the cost of purchasing equipment for clients. CONCLUSION: It is imperative that policy is developed to support nurses' decision making and practices as they address infection control challenges in the community environment. Ensuring staff are well-supported with resources, education, policy, and guidelines to address these challenges is important for the delivery of safe and high-quality care in community settings.

Smoking cessation in male prisoners: a literature review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature relating to smoking cessation (SC) for the male prisoner population. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Databases PubMed, CINAHL and MEDLINE were searched for English language studies from 1990 to 2012. The authors identified 12 papers examining SC in male prisoners. Full-text articles were analysed for inclusion. FINDINGS: A total of 12 studies were identified for inclusion. Four studies focused on forced abstinence (a smoking ban) while the remainder looked at various combinations of nicotine replacement, pharmacology and behavioural techniques. No robust studies were found that examined nursing approaches to SC for the prisoner population. The evidence shows a strong "pro-smoking" culture in prison and that many prisoners continue to smoke irrespective of an enforced ban. However, SC strategies can be successful if implemented systematically and supported by consistent policies. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Female-only prisoner studies were excluded as females comprise just 7 per cent of the Australian prisoner population. The analysis does not differentiate between maximum- or minimum-security prisons, or length of prison sentence. Results cannot be generalised to other forms of detention such as police custody or immigration detention centres. Studies were not appraised for quality, as exclusion on that basis would render further exploration untenable. The analysis was presented in a narrative rather than meta-analytical format and may be subject to interpretation. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This paper provides a foundation on which to build further research evidence into the smoking behaviour of prisoners. This information can be used to advocate for healthier public policy for a vulnerable and marginalised population. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first literature review into SC interventions in prisons. The authors apply the findings of this literature review to the five strategies for health promotion to propose a population approach to smoking cessation in male prisoners. Recommendations specific to the correctional environment are outlined for consideration by correctional health professionals.

Health professionals' decision-making in wound management: a grounded theory.

AIM: To develop a conceptual understanding of the decision-making processes used by healthcare professionals in wound care practice. BACKGROUND: With the global move towards using an evidence-base in standardizing wound care practices and the need to reduce hospital wound care costs, it is important to understand health professionals' decision-making in this important yet under-researched area. DESIGN: A grounded theory approach was used to explore clinical decision-making of healthcare professionals in wound care practice. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 20 multi-disciplinary participants from nursing, surgery, infection control and wound care who worked at a metropolitan hospital in Australia. Data were collected during 2012-2013. Constant comparative analysis underpinned by Strauss and Corbin's framework was used to identify clinical decision-making processes. FINDINGS: The core category was 'balancing practice-based knowledge with evidence-based knowledge'. Participants' clinical practice and actions embedded the following processes: 'utilizing the best available information', 'using a consistent approach in wound assessment' and 'using a multidisciplinary approach'. The substantive theory explains how practice and evidence knowledge was balanced and the variation in use of intuitive practice-based knowledge versus evidence-based knowledge. Participants considered patients' needs and preferences, costs, outcomes, technologies, others' expertise and established practices. Participants' decision-making tended to be more heavily weighted towards intuitive practice-based processes. CONCLUSION: These findings offer a better understanding of the processes used by health professionals' in their decision-making in wound care. Such an understanding may inform the development of evidence-based interventions that lead to better patient outcomes.

Doing the month in a Taiwanese postpartum nursing center: an ethnographic study.

Traditionally Chinese and Taiwanese postpartum women conducted postpartum ritual practices, called "doing the month," at home. Today, many Taiwanese women undertake this ritual in postpartum nursing centers. However, little is known about how the traditional practices are being transformed in relation to contemporary health care in Taiwan. In this ethnographic study observations were carried out in a large post-partum center attached to a major hospital in Taipei for nine months, and 27 postpartum women were interviewed. Data were analyzed using ethnographic approaches to extract codes and categories. Doing the month was reshaped by being relocated from the home to a healthcare setting. Midwives took on roles traditionally taken by family members, which had an impact on family roles and relationships. Some postpartum practices were maintained, based on traditional explanations. However, many were modified or challenged, based on explanations from contemporary scientific knowledge. Midwives need to be aware that there could be differences between their culture of care and the cultural values of the women they care for. This study informs culturally appropriate postpartum care and support for women with traditional and contemporary cultural beliefs and attitudes to doing the month in a range of healthcare contexts.

How does care coordination provided by registered nurses "fit" within the organisational processes and professional relationships in the general practice context?

AIM: The aim of this study was to develop understanding about how a registered nurse-provided care coordination model can "fit" within organisational processes and professional relationships in general practice. BACKGROUND: In this project, registered nurses were involved in implementation of registered nurse-provided care coordination, which aimed to improve quality of care and support patients with chronic conditions to maintain their care and manage their lifestyle. METHOD: Focus group interviews were conducted with nurses using a semi-structured interview protocol. Interpretive analysis of interview data was conducted using Normalization Process Theory to structure data analysis and interpretation. RESULTS: Three core themes emerged: (1) pre-requisites for care coordination, (2) the intervention in context, and (3) achieving outcomes. Pre-requisites were adequate funding mechanisms, engaging organisational power-brokers, leadership roles, and utilising and valuing registered nurses' broad skill base. To ensure registered nurse-provided care coordination processes were sustainable and embedded, mentoring and support as well as allocated time were required. Finally, when registered nurse-provided care coordination was supported, positive client outcomes were achievable, and transformation of professional practice and development of advanced nursing roles was possible. CONCLUSION: Registered nurse-provided care coordination could "fit" within the context of general practice if it was adequately resourced. However, the heterogeneity of general practice can create an impasse that could be addressed through close attention to shared and agreed understandings. Successful development and implementation of registered nurse roles in care coordination requires attention to educational preparation, support of the individual nurse, and attention to organisational structures, financial implications and team member relationships.

Women's management of urinary incontinence in daily living.

PURPOSE: We investigated strategies used by older and working-aged women to manage urinary incontinence (UI) in their daily lives. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised 103 older (>65 years; mean = 74.6 years) and 104 working-aged (18-65 years; mean = 50.3 years) community-dwelling Australian women with self-reported UI. They had experienced UI for an average of 5 years and a majority rated their UI severity as moderate to severe. INSTRUMENT: Based on a comprehensive literature review, a 93-item author-developed questionnaire was developed and pilot tested to identify the type and frequency of strategies used by participants to manage UI. Items were developed that queried demographic and lower urinary symptom characteristics (type, severity, duration). METHODS: Participants were recruited via public and privately funded continence clinics and an advertisement in a local newspaper, with a 66% retention rate following recruitment. Questionnaires were posted to participants with a reply paid envelope for return. RESULTS: The women used a range of strategies to manage UI in their daily lives. A large proportion of women from both groups chose to (1) go to the toilet immediately after urge (older 94%; working-aged 92%); (2) integrate urine loss management a normal part of everyday life (older 81%; working-aged 78%); (3) stopping activities that make them leak (older 85%; working-aged 83%); and (4) using pads and aids for urinary containment (older 87%; working-aged 73%). Older women were more likely to use most of the strategies identified in the questionnaire. These strategies included the following: stop drinking in the evening (older 64%; working-aged 43%; P = .003); organize their bedroom close to the toilet (older 61%; working-aged 36%; P = .001); limit travel (older 45%; working-aged 18%; P = < .001); limit socializing (older 30%; working-aged 11%; P = .001); and limit new relationships (older 25%; working-aged 11%; P = .01). Respondents engaged in a variety of hygiene measures such as washing (older 86%; working-aged 60%; P ≤ .001), changing pads frequently (older 76%; working-aged 58%; P = .008), and using deodorisers (older 68%; working-aged 50%; P ≤ .008). Working-aged women were more likely to modify (older 17%; working-aged 70%; P < .001) or avoid (older 8%; working-aged 32%; P = .001) sexual activity. CONCLUSION: Both older and younger women aimed to normalize UI in their daily lives, using strategies designed to keep the bladder empty, maintain secrecy, and preserve social continence. Knowledge of these strategies and the difference between older and working-aged women will enable health care professionals to initiate more targeted support and advice for women with UI.

Decision-making processes for the self-management of persistent pain: a grounded theory study.

Persistent pain negatively impacts upon the individual suffering this condition. Almost all care related to persistent pain is self-managed. Decision-making is a critical skill of the self-manager and without these skills it would be improbable that effective self-management would emerge. However, current theories regarding decision-making and self-management have not adequately accounted for the many difficulties faced by individuals enduring persistent pain and the consequences of these experiences for the decision-maker. This grounded theory study revealed that individuals will transform into three distinct types of decision-makers using three different styles of decision-making in response to the many and varied problems related to the experience of persistent pain. These findings will provide nurses with valuable information to better equip individuals with persistent pain through the decision-making processes necessary for successful self-management.

Relationship between social support and quality of life in childbearing women during the perinatal period.

OBJECTIVE: To explore demographic and social support predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (mental and physical) for childbearing women in the perinatal period. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SAMPLE: Three public hospitals in metropolitan Brisbane, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred seventy-three (473) women recruited at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and 6 and 12 weeks following childbirth. METHODS: The Short Form-12 (SF-12) Version 2 Health Survey was used to measure the mental and physical domains of HRQoL. Social support was measured using the Maternal Social Support Scale (MSSS). RESULTS: Mean scores for the mental and physical domains of HRQoL were lower than population norms. Social support was found to be a significant and consistent predictor of higher HRQoL scores, particularly in the physical domain at 12 weeks following child birth and mental domain during the perinatal period. The relationship between social support and HRQoL was found to be independent of other factors including education, length of relationship with partner, age, parity, and antenatal visit. The only other significant predictor was length of relationship with partner in the mental domain at 36 weeks of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Social support is a significant and consistent predictor of a mother's HRQoL during the perinatal period. Nurses and midwives need to assess social support, rather than making assumptions based on demographic factors.

Understanding the process of patient satisfaction with nurse-led chronic disease management in general practice.

AIMS: To investigate the process of patient satisfaction with nurse-led chronic disease management in Australian general practice. BACKGROUND: Nurses working in the primary care context of general practice, referred to as practice nurses, are expanding their role in chronic disease management; this is relatively new to Australia. Therefore, determining patient satisfaction with this trend is pragmatically and ethically important. However, the concept of patient satisfaction is not well understood particularly in relation to care provided by practice nurses. DESIGN: A grounded theory study underpinned by a relativist ontological position and a relativist epistemology. METHODS: Grounded theory was used to develop a theory from data collected through in-depth interviews with 38 participants between November 2007-April 2009. Participants were drawn from a larger project that trialled a practice nurse-led, collaborative model of chronic disease management in three Australian general practices. Theoretical sampling, data collection, and analysis were conducted concurrently consistent with grounded theory methods. RESULTS: Patients undergo a cyclical process of Navigating Care involving three stages, Determining Care Needs, Forming Relationship, and Having Confidence. The latter two processes are inter-related and a feedback loop from them informs subsequent cycles of Determining Care Needs. If any of these steps fails to develop adequately, patients are likely to opt out of nurse-led care. CONCLUSION: Navigating Care explains how and why time, communication, continuity, and trust in general practitioners and nurses are important to patient satisfaction. It can be used in identifying suitable patients for practice nurse-led care and to inform the practice and organization of practice nurse-led care to enhance patient satisfaction.

Fatigue and work safety behavior in men during early fatherhood.

This study investigated the relationship between fatigue and work safety behavior of fathers with new babies. A total of 241 fathers completed a questionnaire at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum with items on fatigue and safety behavior at work. Results revealed that fathers worked long hours, reported a moderate-to-high physical intensity of work, and experienced interrupted sleep averaging less than 6 hours. Fathers also reported moderate fatigue at both 6 and 12 weeks postbirth, which was inversely related to safety behavior. Both fatigue and sleep history made a small but statistically significant contribution to safety behavior results at 6 and 12 weeks postbirth. Findings suggest that working fathers with babies experience fatigue during early fatherhood and are unable to recover due to interrupted and poor sleep patterns. Managers should consider the potential for fatigue to compromise work safety and develop risk management strategies that target new fathers.

Being concerned: caregiving for Taiwanese mothers of a child with cerebral palsy.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This article explores the Chinese social context and provides insight into Taiwanese mothers' challenging experiences when a disabled child is born into their families. BACKGROUND: International research indicates that barriers to maternal caregiving for a disabled child revolve around challenging relationships. Giving birth to a disabled child creates a huge challenge for mothers in Chinese society. DESIGN: Data were collected using in-depth interviews and journaling methods. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach, informed by the philosophical world views of Heidegger and Gadamer, provided theoretical guidance in revealing and interpreting mothers' experiences. METHOD: Interviews were carried out with a purposeful sample of 15 mothers who were primary caregivers for a child aged between 0-18 years who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and used Mandarin or Taiwanese as their primary language. RESULTS: Shared meanings revealed four modes of being concerned: (1) experiencing burden as a sole primary caregiver; (2) managing the challenges by balancing demands; (3) being marginalised by others; and (4) encountering limited or no professional support. CONCLUSIONS: Taiwanese mothers face the strain of managing barriers to caregiving in contexts in which their children are not supported or acknowledged as being important contributors to family and Chinese society at large. This study highlights how the family can be important to caregiving mothers in traditional Chinese family life. Poor support and dynamics will emerge when family members regard disability as a loss of face or a stigma. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: By learning from Taiwanese mothers who accommodate barriers to caregiving on a daily basis, nurses can seize the impetus to explore ways of reconceptualising nursing practice with families and people with disabilities. The aim is to explore ways that will ultimately align intentions and caring processes and foster coping and positive reward in caring, thereby creating a context that is stress reducing and therapeutic.

Taiwanese fathers' experiences of having their child diagnosed with a developmental disability.

BACKGROUND: Receiving a diagnosis of a developmental disability in a child can be a crisis event for parents. Gender differences in parental roles are worth considering when exploring the impact of having a child with a disability. However, most studies on this topic have focused on the mother's experience, and little is known about what the father goes through as the parent of a child diagnosed with a disability. Even less is known regarding this experience in the context of the Chinese culture. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to explore fathers' experiences of having a child diagnosed with a developmental disability in a Chinese cultural context. METHODS: This study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach informed by the philosophical world views of Heidegger. The 16 fathers who participated in the study were purposively sampled from a teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Data were collected using in-depth and semistructured interviews and were analyzed using hermeneutic analysis. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed four shared meanings: losing hope, feelings of failure, being frustrated with family conflicts, and searching for positive coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Fathers feel shock and despair as well as personally devalued when learning that their child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability. Chinese cultural beliefs and values can elicit different experiences for fathers while helping them make sense of their experiences and accept their child in meaningful ways. Nurses can actively engage fathers as well as mothers to understand their feelings and thoughts about their child's disability to provide appropriate emotional and informational support. Providing support or referral is necessary particularly when fathers encounter issues with the child's grandparents. Nurses can assist fathers to find a way to make sense of having a child with a disability within their cultural frame of reference by adapting cultural beliefs and values to their situation and to make meaning of their child's life.

The transition experience of Enrolled Nurses to a Bachelor of Nursing at an Australian university.

Endorsed Enrolled Nurses (EENs) articulating from diploma level to Bachelor of Nursing (BN) studies at university experience many transitional barriers. Flexible credit arrangements can create further difficulties because students may enter directly into the second year of a degree program, thus foregoing supportive interventions targeting first year students. This qualitative study explored the transitional barriers faced by EENs articulating to the second year of a BN program and the processes employed to adapt to the university learning environment. Lizzio's (2006) Five Senses of Success Model provided a framework for data analysis. Lizzio's model highlights how students' success at university depends on their sense of purpose, capability, resourcefulness, connectedness and academic culture. This study revealed EENs grapple with their dual identity, have difficulty reconciling their academic and clinical competence, and struggle to assimilate to the academic learning environment. Findings illuminate the importance of tailoring orientation and engagement activities to the specific transitional needs of articulating students.

Maternal role development: the impact of maternal distress and social support following childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: to explore the relationship between maternal role development (MRD), maternal distress (MD) and social support following childbirth. DESIGN: prospective longitudinal survey. SETTING: three public hospital maternity units in Brisbane, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 630 pregnant women were invited to participate in the study, with a 77% (n=473) completion rate. MEASUREMENTS: to measure MRD, the Prenatal Maternal Expectation Scale was used at 36 weeks of pregnancy, and the revised What Being the Parent of a New Baby is Like (with subscales of evaluation, centrality and life change) was used at six and 12 weeks post partum. At all three data collection points, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure MD, and the Maternal Social Support Scale was used to measure social support. FINDINGS: at 36 weeks of gestation, optimal scaling for MRD produced a parsimonious model with MD providing 39% of predictive power. At six weeks post partum, similar models predicting MRD were found (evaluation: r(2)=0.14, MD providing 64% of predictive power; centrality: r(2)=0.07, MD providing 11% of predictive power; life change: r(2)=0.26, MD providing 59% of predictive power). At 12 weeks post partum, MD was a predictor for evaluation (r(2)=0.11) and life change (r(2)=0.26, 54% of predictive power). KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: there is a statistically significant but moderate correlation between MRD and MD. The transition to motherhood can be stressful, but may be facilitated by appropriate acknowledgement and support with an emphasis on MRD.

Maternal distress: a concept analysis.

AIM: This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of maternal distress. BACKGROUND: Although not well-developed, the concept of maternal distress has offered an important viewpoint in nursing and midwifery practice since the mid-1990s. Traditionally, understanding of maternal distress has been based on the medical model and dysfunction. The concept of maternal distress needs development so that it describes responses ranging from normal stress responses to those indicating mental health problem/s. DATA SOURCES: The SCOPUS, CINAHL and Medline databases were searched for the period from 1995 to 2009 using the keywords 'psychological distress', 'emotional distress' and 'maternal distress'. REVIEW METHODS: Steps from Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis guided the conduct of this concept analysis. RESULTS: Four attributes of maternal distress were identified as responses to the transition to motherhood, with the level of each response occurring along a continuum: stress, adapting, functioning and control, and connecting. Antecedents to maternal distress include becoming a mother, role changes, body changes and functioning, increased demands and challenges, losses and gains, birth experiences, and changes to relationships and social context. The consequences of maternal distress are compromised mental health status, maternal role development, quality of life, ability to function, quality of relationships and social engagement. The extent of the impact depends on the level of maternal distress. CONCLUSION: Clearer interpretation of maternal distress offers a comprehensive approach to understanding maternal emotional health during the transition to motherhood. Acknowledging women's experiences and providing more appropriate support could alleviate some of the struggles and hardships experienced by mothers.

Work safety during early fatherhood.

Fathers are increasingly expected to engage in infant care. The early postpartum period has been described as a time when work-family conflict, lack of sleep, and fatigue are prominent themes. Research has demonstrated that these themes can have a deleterious effect on work safety. Lack of sleep and fatigue have been linked to workplace accidents, yet few studies have specifically investigated work-family conflict, sleep, and fatigue among men with infants. The need exists to specifically study and measure work-family conflict, sleep deprivation, and fatigue in relation to early fatherhood. Such research could have a direct effect on occupational health nursing practice.