Parental coping and psychological well-being in pediatric oncolgy patients while on treatment

Abstract

Our objective in this work has been exploring the parents emotional experiences while their children or adolescents with cancer were on treatment. We aproached them openly instead of exclusively focused on the known negative consequences of pediatric cancer in the family. Method: The population study included 30 parents whose children were on treatment at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit at Universitary HM Monteprincipe hospital. A mixed method study was carried out (quantitative and qualitative) through a semi-structured interview. Results: Five main findings have been obtained from the parent´s interviews. Parents of children with cancer use active coping, focused on the present therefore allowing acceptance during treatment of their child’s illness. On the other hand, parents found an enviroment in the Unit in which they could express their emotions, their personal values, and their spiritual grothw. Gratitude towards life and caring was also and important finding in this study. In this theoretical model the comitment with values was a predictor of psychological wellbeing (personal growth and life sense) as well as gratitude. Discussion / conclusions: Active coping in parents of children and adolescents with cancer, should be encouraged in any Pediatric Oncology Unit, regarding commitment with values and attitudes of gratitude and trust. Gratitude allows personal growth and vital sense within families. An adequate emotional experience in parents results in a direct benefit on their children.