Peace of mind and sense of purpose as core existential issues among parents of children with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate issues experienced by parents of children with cancer and factors related to parents' ability to find peace of mind.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.


METHODS
One hundred ninety-four parents of children with cancer (response rate, 70%) in the first year of cancer treatment.


METHODS
The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being sense of meaning subscale.


RESULTS
Principal components analysis of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being sense of meaning subscale responses identified 2 distinct constructs, peace of mind (Cronbach alpha = .83) and sense of purpose (Cronbach alpha = .71). Scores ranged from 1 to 5, with 5 representing the strongest sense of peace or purpose. One hundred forty-seven of 181 parents (81%) scored 4 or higher for questions related to sense of purpose (mean [SD] score, 4.4 [0.6]). Only 44 of 185 parents (24%) had scores in the same range for peace of mind (mean [SD] score, 3.2 [0.9]) (P < .001). In a multivariable logistic regression model, parents had higher peace of mind scores when they also reported that they trusted the oncologist's judgment (odds ratio [OR] = 6.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-30.02), that the oncologist had disclosed detailed prognostic information (OR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.14-3.70), and that the oncologist had provided high-quality information about the cancer (OR = 2.54; 95% CI, 1.11-5.79). Peace of mind was not associated with prognosis (OR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.41-1.32) or time since diagnosis (OR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.995-1.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians may be able to facilitate formulation of peace of mind by giving parents high-quality medical information, including prognostic information, and facilitating parents' trust.
Mack
Jennifer W
JW
Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. jennifer_mack@dfci.harvard.edu
Wolfe
Joanne
J
Cook
E Francis
EF
Grier
Holcombe E
HE
Cleary
Paul D
PD
Weeks
Jane C
JC
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001900:Boston; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D003625:Data Collection; D005086:Existentialism; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D035502:Trust