Psychological and spiritual wellbeing of family caregivers of children with cancer at a teaching hospital in Ghana

Care for the cerebrovascular accident survivors: experiences of family caregivers

BACKGROUND

The role of family caregivers in the management of cerebrovascular accident survivors is invaluable. So far, there is a strong evidence affirming the effectiveness of family support for cerebrovascular accident survivors. Meanwhile, caring for cerebrovascular survivors can be labour and time intensive and pretty stressful for caregivers. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of family caregivers of cerebrovascular accident survivors in the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana. This aims are to establish their caregivers' knowledge, preparedness, and impact of caregiving on the caregiver, and coping strategies caregivers adopted.

METHODS

Using a four-item (with 14 prompts) interview guide and descriptive phenomenological approach, we gathered and analysed data from 37 family caregivers in the Ho Municipality of Ghana.

RESULTS

We found that caregivers had limited knowledge about cerebrovascular disease-risk factors and were ill-prepared for their caregiving roles. Additionally, we found limited knowledge about coping strategies among the caregivers. We further report that some caregivers lost close relationships, and their jobs because of the caregiving, they also used fasting and prayer as coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers suffered broken relationship, loss their jobs and incomes due to their caregiving roles. Moreover, some engaged in fasting and prayers, and alcohol use to cope with the stress associated with caring for the cerebrovascular accident survivors. We discussed the potential implications of our findings on the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. The aim of this goal is to reduce by 75% premature deaths due to cerebrovascular and other non-communicable diseases by 2030.

Experiences of caregivers of children with cancer in Malawi: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that caregivers of children with cancer experience challenges when caring for their children. To date, no studies have examined the experience of caregivers of children with cancer in Malawi, a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study aimed to explore the experiences of caregivers of Malawian children receiving cancer treatment.

METHODS

This explorative qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from 22 caregivers of children receiving cancer treatment. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes emerged from the QCA. The caregivers perceived their children's cancer as a burden, a form of psychological torture and a disruptor of family routines and social lifestyles. They also reported self-isolation due to the stigma that they faced in the course of caring for their children and a need for informational, psychosocial, spiritual and financial support.

CONCLUSION

Caregivers of Malawian children with cancer experience physical and psychosocial challenges as they are caring for their children with cancer. Developing appropriate interventions would enable nurses to offer optimal support to these caregivers in dealing with these challenges and meeting their needs effectively.

Being the nurse for my child at home: A qualitative analysis of parental recognition, appraisal, and reactions to childhood cancer in Ghana

Parental involvement in childhood cancer care is of utmost importance, but the understanding of parental recognition, appraisal, and reactions to childhood cancer in settings such as Ghana is limited. We conducted an empirical phenomenological study to explore these aspects among Ghanaian parents. Twenty parents were purposively sampled to participate in semi-structured interviews between June and September 2022. All interviews were transcribed and analysed using an inductive thematic approach. We found that parents recognised symptoms through personal observation and their child's self-report, often perceiving them as non-severe. Emotional reactions upon receiving their child's cancer diagnosis included psychological distress, fear, doubts, and confusion. Enduring emotions experienced by parents were fears of disease recurrence and impending death of their child. Parents assumed the role of nurses at home, monitoring therapy effects, managing pain and symptoms, and dressing wounds. In conclusion, parents in Ghana play a crucial role in the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment pathways of childhood cancer. To enhance their ability to recognise symptoms and take timely actions, it is recommended to implement media programs and health education initiatives targeting parents.

Spiritual Coping Among Families of Children With Cancer: A Qualitative Study

The impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis precipitates caregiver's engagement in spiritual coping. This study aimed to explore spirituality among Malaysian Muslim caregivers of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A total of 13 eligible caregivers participated in this qualitative semi-structured interview via purposive sampling. Each interview was audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 via thematic analysis. Three main themes revolved around hope through the act of praying and recitation (du'ā' and dhikr), acceptance of God's will (redha), and faith toward God as the Provider of sustenance (rezeki). The findings of this study contribute to a holistic supportive care system in pediatric oncology as it informs health care providers the role of spirituality in mitigating the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and promoting psychological adaptation. As a multicultural country, future studies may explore spirituality in other cultures and religion in the country.

Physical and socioeconomic burden of caregiving on family caregivers of children with cancer at a tertiary Hospital in Ghana

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer is proportionately higher in Africa and these result in increased demands on caregivers. The inability of affected children to take care of themselves; coupled with prescribed medical interventions presents physical and social burdens on family caregivers.

AIMS AND METHODS

This study used a qualitative exploratory design to explore the physical and socioeconomic challenges for family caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer and receiving care at one of the biggest tertiary hospitals in Ghana. A total of thirteen family caregivers of children with cancer were interviewed.

FINDINGS

Two major themes were identified: Burden of care on Physical Health and Socioeconomic burdens of caregiving on the family caregiver. It was reported that family caregivers encounter physical challenges such as Aches and Pains when performing caregiving activities, Loss of Appetite, Fatigue, Compromised Functional State and Sleep Disruption. The second theme, Socioeconomic burdens of caregiving on family caregivers account for the consequences of caregiving on social lives, family relationships, finance and employment.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The study recommends that measures that provided relief for the caregivers such as teaching them to adopt local measures of pain relief such as massage should be encouraged. Policies should adopt measures that encourage caregivers to have some days of rest whiles providing care to their children with cancer. Also, health insurance packages that provide relief for the cost of accessing healthcare, should be extended to children with cancers to support their caregivers.

Waves of family hope: narratives of families in the context of pediatric chronic illness

OBJECTIVE

to analyze narratives about the experience of hope of families in the context of pediatric chronic illness.

METHOD

a narrative research using Family Systems Nursing as a conceptual framework. Three families of children and adolescents diagnosed with complex chronic illness participated in this study, totaling 10 participants. Data collection was developed using family photo-elicitation interviews. Family narratives were constructed and analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis with theoretical data triangulation.

RESULTS

the analytical theme - Waves of Family Hope in the Context of Pediatric Chronic Illness - is composed of four different types of hope: uncertain hope, caring hope, latent hope, and expectant hope. Movement through these hopes generates a driving energy and depends on a number of factors: support, information, searching for normality, and thoughts and comparisons.

CONCLUSION

the results highlight the interaction and reciprocities of the members of the family unit, and the dynamics of hope, and illustrate the different types of hope and the factors that influence them. This study highlights the experience of hope as a family resource rather than just an individual resource, and supports health professionals in the planning of family care considering hope as an essential and dynamic family resource.

Hope in Iranian mothers of children with cancer: a descriptive correlational study

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine the relationship between the level of hope in mothers who have a child with cancer and its related factors in Iran.

METHOD

A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was used in this study. A demographic questionnaire and the Herth Hope Index (HHI) were administered to a sample of 240 mothers who have a child with cancer to assess level of hope. Mothers were also asked to indicate their highest priority hopes such as view of their supportive resources including financial support, psychosocial support, religiosity and spirituality. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho, independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

The mean HHI score was 35.44 (n = 237). There was a positive correlation between HHI total score and spirituality (r = 0.267, P < 0.001), and psychosocial support (r = 0.281, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between HHI total score and respondents who saw themselves as a religious person and the family financial support. There was a significant difference in HHI total scores for a mother who has a disabled child (M = 32.92, SD = 2.75; t (235) = 2.00, P = 0.046) and mothers of a child who do not have any disability besides their cancer (M = 35.59, SD = 4.91). No significant differences were found in the HHI total score and different group of the child's diagnoses and the mother's age or/and child's age.

CONCLUSION

Mothers who have a child with cancer with better psychosocial and spiritual support showed a higher level of hope. A thorough knowledge of factors associated with hope in mothers caring for children suffering from cancer could provide a means to further advance the support delivered and the available resources given to the parents, especially the mothers.