Paper
Saturday, July 24, 2004
The Impact of Surviving Childhood and Adolescent Cancer on the Family
Kathleen L. Neville, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Kean University, Union, NJ, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Describe the long-term impact of surviving pediatric cancer on the family unit |
| Learning Objective #2: Identify common themes
identified by families with a survivor of childhood or adolescent cancer |
Objective: To explore the impact of surviving childhood and adolescent cancer on the family unit. Design: Descriptive qualitative. Sample: Through a snowball sampling technique, data were obtained from volunteer participants consisting of families with a child who has survived childhood or adolescent cancer. Methods: Intensive, unstructured interviews by one researcher were conducted in families homes to gain an understanding of the cancer experience for the entire family. Family members were interviewed individually and collectively during one in-depth interview session. Constant comparision analyses was used to identify emergent themes. Findings: This analysis indicated five themes in families of a childhood/adolescent cancer survivor: Increased maternal affiliation, uncertainty, resilience, posttraumatic stress, and discrepant parental responses to a life-threatening illness. Conclusions: The trauma of having a child survive cancer represents a life-changing experience for the entire family. Cancer-related fears and uncertainties exist long afer the cessation of treatment, and dramatically impacts on family life. Addressing the psychosocial needs of survivors and their family members should be a component of their health care long after treatment ends. Implications: Although time-consuming and difficult, further research to gain additional knowledge regarding family responses, and in particular, parental responses to the experience of a life-threatening illness is warranted.
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Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004