Adaptational process of parents of pediatric oncology patients.
This study, based on grounded theory, explores the adaptational process of parents of pediatric oncology patients. Thirty-two Taiwanese parents (26 mothers and 6 fathers) were interviewed. Data were collected through individual in-depth and focus group interviews, observations, medical chart review, nurses' note, and researchers' reflexive journals. The findings suggest that parents adapt to their children's cancer by a dynamic process; i.e., they modify their coping tasks and related strategies as clinical events (e.g., diagnosis, side effects, relapses, or death) occur. This adaptational process consisted of five components: confronting treatment, maintaining family integrity, establishing support, maintaining emotional well-being, and searching for spiritual meaning. Related factors such as coping tasks are described.
Yeh
C H
CH
Graduate Institute of Nursing Science, Chang Gung University, Taiwan, Republic of China. cyeh@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Lee
T T
TT
Chen
M L
ML
Li
W
W
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology