title: Siblings of children with cancer - their experiences of participating in a person-centered support intervention combining education, learning and reflection: pre- and post-intervention interviews.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a person-centered intervention, directed to siblings with a brother or sister newly diagnosed with cancer that combines education, learning and reflection about cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative methods with pre- and post-intervention semi-structured interviews were conducted. Fourteen siblings aged 9-22 years participated. A qualitative content analysis was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result comprises of five themes: 'grasping for knowledge about cancer, 'thinking for hours and having nightmares', 'experiencing physical pain', 'being emotional in several ways', 'waiting for a normal, good life despite the uncertain future". Pre-intervention; a low level of knowledge of cancer treatments and its side effects was revealed; siblings slept poorly, lay awake thinking and had nightmares about cancer; they felt pain in different parts of their body; they felt emotional and angry and were anxious as cancer is life-threatening; in the future the sick child will finished treatment and recovered. Post-intervention; siblings described having specific knowledge, felt more informed, and that it was easier to understand the sick child's situation; they slept better, but still had a lot on their minds regarding the sick child; most siblings said they no longer experienced pain, felt better and were happier but could still get sad; in the future the sick child would be healthy, not exactly as before, but almost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Person-centered intervention helps siblings to be more knowledgeable about the sick child's cancer, leading to a more realistic view about treatments and consequences. Further studies of person-centered interventions for siblings are important.
authors: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Box 457, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Centre for Children's Right to Health, SE-416 85 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: margaretha.nolbris@vgregion.se.
authors: Margaretha
authors: M
authors: Jenholt Nolbris
authors: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Box 457, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Nursing, Health and Culture, University West, SE-461 86 Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors: Britt Hedman
authors: BH
authors: Ahlström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Child; Content analysis; Education; Intervention; Interviews; Nursing; Person centered care; Qualitative; Sibling