Caring for a child with cancer--a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of a systematic review to determine the effects of parents' behavior on children's coping with cancer.


METHODS
Searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, PsycLit, and articles were subsequently selected on the basis of predefined criteria.


RESULTS
Twenty-four papers were identified. There were associations between parenting behaviors and child distress both before and during medical procedures. Parents who criticized the child, or apologized for what was happening had children who were more distressed. Parents who were very permissive had more problems with adherence to treatment regimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents' behavior is critical in determining children's responses during procedures and adherence to home care. There has been less work concerning how parents manage more everyday problems, such as encouraging the child to go to school. Longitudinal studies are recommended to determine how parenting behaviors affect longer term child adjustment. These findings may be helpful for clinic staff to understand parents' reactions, and may also inform the content of intervention programs.
Vance
Yvonne
Y
Cancer Research UK Child and Family Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Eiser
Christine
C
D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000523:psychology; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological