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Schwartz-Attias I, Krulik T, Ronen T. Well-being in parents of children with cancer: illness perceptions' mediating role for hope and social support. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1206520. [PMID: 39021645 PMCID: PMC11252627 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1206520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Parents of children with cancer may experience enormous physical and emotional pressures. During such times, perception of the situation can be important in mediating the link between one's basic resources (mainly cognitive and social) and the well-being one attains as an emotional and cognitive response. This study aimed to explore the role of illness impact perceptions in mediating the link between hope, social support and subjective well-being in parents of children with cancer. Methods The cross-sectional study included 108 parents of children aged 7-18 diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months prior to the study. The parents completed one questionnaire comprising five instruments: perceived impact of illness, hope, social support, positive and negative affect (the emotional component of well-being) and life satisfaction (the cognitive component of well-being). Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations were conducted for all study variables. SEM analysis was performed to examine the study's theoretical model. Results The current sample included 108 parents of children with cancer recruited from two pediatric hematology-oncology wards in two different hospitals in central Israel. Most participants were mothers (70.4%), and the mean age was 44.46. The main results indicated that hope and social support correlated negatively with perceptions of the illness' impact. Illness impact perceptions mediated the relations between hope, social support and positive emotions, which means that when the parents perceived their child's illness as less impactful on the family, they experienced higher levels of emotional well-being. Conclusion A parent with social support resources and higher levels of hope experiences higher levels of positive perceptions regarding their child's illness. Higher levels of positive perceptions allow the parent to express more positive than negative emotions, thus maintaining a more optimal level of subjective emotional well-being. The findings offer implications for healthcare teams to enhance sensitivity to parents' needs and to help parents attain more resources, positive perceptions, and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irit Schwartz-Attias
- Meir Academic Nursing School, Meir Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - Tamar Krulik
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Steyer School of Health Professions, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tammie Ronen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Meral B, Bulut HK. Predictors of Moderate-High Posttraumatic Growth in Parents of Children With Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study. Cancer Nurs 2024:00002820-990000000-00262. [PMID: 38869313 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents of children with cancer may experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). In clinical practice, this parental enhancement is more likely to be seen with a moderate-high PTG. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the moderate-high PTG prevalence of parents of children diagnosed with cancer at least 6 months and to investigate its relationship with hope, social support, and patient-parent characteristics. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted with the parents of children with cancer admitted to the pediatric hematology-oncology unit using the Parent-Child Characteristic Questionnaire, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Dispositional Hope Scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the variables associated with moderate-high PTG. RESULTS One hundred one parents were enrolled in this study, and the prevalence of the moderate-high PTG was 79.2%. There was a statistically significant difference between moderate-high PTG and children's age (P = .037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that social support from significant others (odds ratio = 1.138, 95% confidence interval = 1.030-1.257, P = .011) was a predictor of moderate-high PTG. CONCLUSIONS Moderate-high PTG is common among parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Perceived social support from healthcare professionals and other patient parents is a predictive factor. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Interventions that encourage the support of health professionals and interaction with the parents of other patients, such as peer counseling, group-based interventions, and expanding the social support network, seem to be clinically promising in helping parents to improve from the cancer experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buket Meral
- Authors' Affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nursing, Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey (MSc Meral); and Department of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey (Dr Bulut)
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Liu CY, Zhang S, Wang F, Ni ZH. Hope experiences in parents of children with cancer: A qualitative meta-synthesis. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2024; 70:102583. [PMID: 38631124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2024.102583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To synthesise qualitative research on the parental hope experiences for children with cancer and identify the levels of parental hope experiences and psychosocial adjustment during cancer events. METHODS Five electronic databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP) were used to retrieve qualitative studies on the hope experiences of parents of children with cancer from inception to February 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were synthesised using a thematic analysis. RESULTS Four analytical themes were identified: the process and way hope exists, sources of hope, positive effects of hope, and obstacles to hope maintenance. CONCLUSIONS Maintaining hope is crucial for parents who are caring for their children with cancer. There are different sources of hope, and targeted interventions can enhance the experience of hope for parents of children with cancer. Families, healthcare providers, and society should pay more attention to the parents of children with cancer and provide them with psychological, social, and financial support to improve their level of hope and quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yan Liu
- Department of Nursing, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhong Nan Street, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China; School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, No. 1 Shi Zi Road, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Nursing, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhong Nan Street, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China; School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, No. 1 Shi Zi Road, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Nursing, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhong Nan Street, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China; School of Nursing, Medical College of Soochow University, No. 1 Shi Zi Road, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Ni
- Department of Nursing, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhong Nan Street, Soochow, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Koyu HO, Algül G, Altay N, Kilicarslan E. The effect of psychological resilience and spiritual well-being on the experience of hope in parents of children with cancer. J Pediatr Nurs 2024; 76:e34-e41. [PMID: 38307757 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2024.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hope in pediatric oncology guides parents as an inner guidance compass through their child's challenging journey toward cancer treatment. This study was designed to examine the effects of psychological resilience, spiritual well-being, and some child- and parent-related factors on parents' experience of hope while their child is undergoing cancer treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted between March and July 2022 in the pediatric oncology-hematology ward of a university hospital in Turkey. Parents of 120 children with cancer were included in the study. Data were collected using the child and parent questionnaire, Herth Hope Index, Connor-Davidson Resilience Short Form, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. In addition, the content analysis method was used to analyze the open-ended structured questions. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. RESULTS In the study, 57.5% of the parents who participated were mothers. The mean age of the children was 9.46 ± 5.00 years. 30.8% of the children were diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and the mean duration of treatment was 20.42 ± 13.75 months. According to multiple linear regression analysis, child gender (β = -0.16), number of children (β = -0.16), cancer diagnosis (β = -0.24), resilience (β =0.31), and parental spiritual well-being (β =0.40) were the determinant factors affecting parents' experiences of hope. All these predictors explained 55% of the change in parents' hope levels. In addition, two main themes (increasing and decreasing factors) were identified regarding parents' experiences of hope. CONCLUSIONS Insights from this study have the potential to shape interventions specifically designed to maintain parents' hope throughout their child's cancer treatment journey. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This study may provide insights for the design of intervention programs in pediatric oncology hematology wards aimed at strengthening the hope and improving coping mechanisms of parents with children coping with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazal Ozdemir Koyu
- Gazi University Nursing Faculty Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ankara, Turkey..
| | | | - Naime Altay
- Gazi University Nursing Faculty Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ebru Kilicarslan
- Gazi University Nursing Faculty Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ankara, Turkey
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Deribe L, Addissie A, Girma E, Abraha A, Adam H, Berbyuk Lindström N. Stress and coping strategies among parents of children with cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital paediatric oncology unit, Ethiopia: a phenomenological study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e065090. [PMID: 36609328 PMCID: PMC9827240 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explores sources of stress, conditions that help reduce stress levels and coping strategies among parents of children with cancer receiving chemotherapy at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Ethiopia. DESIGN A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. SETTING Parents of children receiving chemotherapy at the TASH paediatric oncology unit. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with nine mothers and six fathers of children with cancer from November 2020 to January 2021. RESULTS Sources of stress related to child's health condition as the severity of the child's illness, fear of treatment side effects and loss of body parts were identified. Parents mentioned experiencing stress arising from limited access to health facilities, long waiting times, prolonged hospital stays, lack of chemotherapy drugs, and limited or inadequate information about their child's disease condition and treatment. Other sources of stress were insufficient social support, stigmatisation of cancer and financial problems. Conditions decreasing parents' stress included positive changes in the child's health, receiving cancer treatment and access to drugs. Receiving counselling from healthcare providers, getting social support and knowing someone who had a positive treatment outcome also helped reduce stress. Coping strategies used by parents were religious practices including prayer, crying, accepting the child's condition, denial and communication with health providers. CONCLUSION The main causes of stress identified by parents of children with cancer in Ethiopia were the severity of their child's illness, expectations of poor treatment outcomes, unavailability of cancer treatment services and lack of social/financial support. Measures that should be considered to reduce parents' stress include providing psycho-oncological care for parents and improving the counselling available to parents concerning the nature of the child's illness, its treatment, diagnostic procedures and treatment side effects. It may also be helpful to establish and strengthen family support groups and parent-to-parent communication, improve the availability of chemotherapy drugs and offer more education on coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leul Deribe
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adamu Addissie
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eshetu Girma
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aynalem Abraha
- Department of Oncology, Addis Ababa University School of Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Haileyesus Adam
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Zeng C, Cao W, Zhao T, Li L, Hou L. Hope level and associated factors among parents of retinoblastoma patients during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21:391. [PMID: 34362326 PMCID: PMC8343352 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03401-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global public health emergency. So far, only a limited number of studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pneumonia pandemic on the mental health of parents having children with cancer. This study investigated the hope, and relevant influencing factors (depression, anxiety, demographic data) among parents whose children had retinoblastoma (RB) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A cross-sectional survey and a convenient sampling survey were conducted on 317 parents of RB children admitted to the Ninth People's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, and Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University. The survey tools included Demographic Questionnaire, Herth Hope Index (HHI), The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ)-2. RESULTS The hope level score of the parents of RB patients was (35.36 ± 4.42), which was at the medium level. The highest dimension of hope score was inner positive readiness and expectancy (12.07 ± 1.57), and the lowest dimension was interconnectedness with self and others (11.50 ± 1.64). The incidence rate of depression and anxiety was 29.97% (95/317) and 41.32% (131/317), respectively. Monoculus or binoculus disease, sleep status, health status, and depression /anxiety had statistically significant effects on the parental hope level (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that time since diagnosis, education level, treatment type and depression were independent influencing factors (p < 0.05), accounting for 22.60% of the variation in hope level. CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff should formulate targeted intervention measures according to different characteristics of ocular disease, time since diagnosis, treatment type, parental educational level and emotional state in order to improve the level of parental hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjuan Zeng
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Nursing, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Nursing, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenting Cao
- grid.507037.6School of Nursing and Health Management, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Nursing, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Li
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Nursing, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Hou
- Department of Nursing, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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