Learning to live with childhood cancer: a literature review of the parental perspective.
This article presents an analysis of literature on paternal and maternal development and resilience through the experience of having a child diagnosed, treated, and possibly die from cancer. The methods and analysis of findings from research conducted in this area are assessed, as are the data's relevance and implications for practice. The review required an in-depth search of relevant health-care databases using appropriate search terms. Findings were then culled and analysed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and two papers were deemed appropriate for selection. Four contrasting themes emerged from each article. It was generally acknowledged that mothers and fathers enduring such an experience stated that changes occurred in their lives. The mothers felt a need to become tougher for their child and family, and the fathers recognized a need to focus quickly on what needed to be done to treat their child's illness. However, analytically the differences in each paper are vast. The research was conducted in Japan and the United States, where contrasting cultural and societal beliefs and influences are apparent, therefore inadvertently affecting the research findings. Furthermore, a gap in research in this area has been detected, and much more research specifically focused on this subject is required if the children's nurse is to provide evidence-based holistic care in this area on a continual basis.
Neil
Louise
L
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland. lneil01@qub.ac.uk
Clarke
Sonya
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values