Parental sleep when their child is sick: A phased principle-based concept analysis

Determining cancer stage at diagnosis in population-based cancer registries: A rapid scoping review

Introduction

Population-based cancer registries are the main source of data for population-level analysis of cancer stage at diagnosis. This data enables analysis of cancer burden by stage, evaluation of screening programs and provides insight into differences in cancer outcomes. The lack of standardised collection of cancer staging in Australia is well recognised and is not routinely collected within the Western Australia Cancer Registry. This review aimed to explore how cancer stage at diagnosis is determined in population-based cancer registries.

Methods

This review was guided by the Joanna-Briggs Institute methodology. A systematic search of peer-reviewed research studies and grey literature from 2000 to 2021 was conducted in December 2021. Literature was included if peer-reviewed articles or grey literature sources used population-based cancer stage at diagnosis, and were published in English between 2000 and 2021. Literature was excluded if they were reviews or only the abstract was available. Database results were screened by title and abstract using Research Screener. Full-texts were screened using Rayyan. Included literature were analysed using thematic analysis and managed through NVivo.

Results

The findings of the 23 included articles published between 2002 and 2021 consisted of two themes. (1) "Data sources and collection processes" outlines the data sources used, as well as the processes and timing of data collection utilised by population-based cancer registries. (2) "Staging classification systems" reveals the staging classification systems employed or developed for population-based cancer staging, including the American Joint Committee on Cancer's Tumour Node Metastasis and related systems; simplified systems classified into localised, regional, and distant categories; and miscellaneous systems.

Conclusions

Differences in approaches used to determine population-based cancer stage at diagnosis challenge attempts to make interjurisdictional and international comparisons. Barriers to collecting population-based stage at diagnosis include resource availability, infrastructure differences, methodological complexity, interest variations, and differences in population-based roles and emphases. Even within countries, disparate funding sources and funder interests can challenge the uniformity of population-based cancer registry staging practices. International guidelines to guide cancer registries in collecting population-based cancer stage is needed. A tiered framework of standardising collection is recommended. The results will inform integrating population-based cancer staging into the Western Australian Cancer Registry.

Actigraphy‐measured sleep concordance, night‐wakings, intraindividual sleep variability in parents and their children—Associations with childhood sleep disturbances

The relationship between the sleep of parents and their children has primarily been studied using self-reported measures, but data using objective sleep assessments are limited. In particular, objective assessments of sleep disturbance and night-wakings in parents in relation to their children's night-wakings is underexamined. This pilot study employed actigraphy to determine concordance in sleep-wake patterns between parents and their children, and examine temporal links between their wakings lasting five min or longer. The study also explored individual variability in parents' sleep based on parent-reported sleep disturbances in children. A total of 20 parents and children (aged 2-12 years, no co-sleepers) contributed actigraphy data for the 14-night study, totalling 280 nights of data. Parents reported their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and children's sleep using the Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Concordance analysis of actigraphy data revealed an average of 70.6% match in sleep/wake state between parents and children. Parents were three times more likely to have an awakening within 10 min of their child waking than vice versa. Parent-reported sleep disturbances in children were associated with poorer actigraphic sleep outcomes for both the parent and child. Parents of poorly sleeping children demonstrated greater variability in their bedtime, and wake after sleep onset. Further examination of temporal links between parent-child sleep can improve our understanding of factors that predispose or precipitate sleep disturbances across families. Given the high concordance in parent-child sleep and poorer actigraphy sleep outcomes in parents of children with sleep disturbances, there is a need to deliver efficacious sleep interventions at the family level.

"You Never Exhale Fully Because You're Not Sure What's NEXT": Parents' Experiences of Stress Caring for Children With Chronic Conditions

Children with chronic conditions are experiencing improved survival worldwide, and it is well-known that their parents are stressed. Yet, despite this knowledge, parents continue to experience stress. Our study explored the lived experience of parental stress when caring for children with various chronic conditions to identify opportunities to potentially reduce stress for these parents. This was an exploratory qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. To ensure appropriate research priorities were addressed, the study was co-designed with consumer and stakeholder involvement. Twenty parents were interviewed. Parents were recruited through a recognized family support organization for children with various care needs in Western Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymized, and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two superordinate themes were identified: (1) Gut instinct to tipping point included parents as unheard experts and their experiences of stress and becoming overwhelmed. (2) Losses and gains covered the parents' identity and relationship challenges and coping strategies with their children's unpredictable conditions. Parents' experiences of stress caring for children with chronic conditions can be applied to the Job-Demand Control-Support Model for occupational stress. Not only does this application provide a useful framework for practitioners but it adds a unique perspective that reflects the dual role of parents in caring for their children with chronic conditions as a parent but also a professional with a 24/7 workload. The parents' experiences highlight a need for improved support access, effective communication between parents and health care professionals, discharge preparation and information provision, and regular screening of parental stress with a referral pathway.