The experiences of mental health professionals using structured family-centered interventions to support children of cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Increasing interest has been focused on providing psychosocial support and preventive care for the children of adult cancer patients.


OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this study was to describe clinicians' experiences using structured family-centered interventions to address the needs of children whose parent has cancer.


METHODS
Using a narrative method, qualitative data were collected from interviews with 7 experienced clinicians who had used structured family-centered interventions in families with a parent with cancer.


RESULTS
Narrative analysis revealed 4 primary thematic categories: interteam collaboration, focus on the children, death, and perceived impact of interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to identify the needs of children and provide appropriate support to the entire family of adult cancer patients. To effectively support a family with divergent needs requires good interteam collaboration and networking with local services that are available for children. It is important to acknowledge and address the needs of children of cancer patients. In so doing, parents benefit and are empowered in their parenting role. Families can be helped to address their concerns, particularly death issues, through effective interteam collaboration.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence gained from the experiences of health professionals in clinical practice is important and forms a basis for focusing next on producing research-based evidence regarding the effects of interventions. The benefits of the interventions we describe must be clearly demonstrated by comparison with usual treatment practices before applying them widely in clinical practice.
Niemelä
Mika
M
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland. mikajniemela@gmail.com
Väisänen
Leena
L
Marshall
Catherine
C
Hakko
Helinä
H
Räsänen
Sami
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological