Fathers' psychological responses to pediatric cancer–induced financial distress

Santacroce, Sheila Judge; Killela, Mary K.; Kerr, Gavin; Leckey, Jill A.; Kneipp, Shawn M.

doi:10.1002/pbc.28281

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In addition, fathers were described as having less access to emotional support, from both personal support and welfare systems. Previous research has found that fathers' sense of pressure to take the breadwinning role when a child is treated for cancer may cause both financial trauma and consequential psychological distress (Santacroce et al, 2020). Our study suggests that despite the progress of gender equality in many aspects of society the past decades, mothers and fathers are still met with different expectations when it comes to parenting a seriously ill child, even in a country such as Sweden, where gender equality has been extensively advocated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

A Balancing Act: Working and Caring for a Child with Cancer

et al. 2021

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Parenting a child with cancer creates numerous additional care demands that may lead to increased difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities. Still, there is limited knowledge of how parents cope with both parenthood and paid work after a child’s cancer diagnosis. The aim of the study was to explore mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of balancing the dual roles of work and parenthood following a child’s cancer diagnosis. Nine focus groups with in total 32 parents of children with cancer in Sweden were conducted. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Three categories were identified: Shifts in the importance of the parent role and the work role, Influence of context and conditions on the balance of roles, and Long-term unbalance of roles. Parents expressed an increased appreciation of time spent with family, but also emphasized the importance of work to counterbalance the sometimes overwhelming parenting demands. The pre-existing financial situation, work situation, and employer behaviour were important factors influencing the parents’ ability to balance work and family. Traditional gender roles influenced how couples divided responsibilities and reflected on their experiences. Mothers and fathers were also met with different expectations, which highlights the need for the healthcare to consider their communication with caregivers. Importantly, the parents expressed how the child’s illness affected their ability to balance work and family for a long time, while the understanding and support from others had steadily declined. Enabling parents to care for their ill child without sacrificing their own career is of utmost importance, and future research should focus on identifying which factors facilitate for parents to achieve a sustainable work-life balance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

A Balancing Act: Working and Caring for a Child with Cancer

et al. 2021

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“…First, when a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents plan a daily routine that prioritizes coping with the child’s disease. While determining the treatment method, parents play multiple roles, such as providing emotional support and financial support to their child as a patient’s guardian [ 5 ]. As the patient begins to receive cancer treatment in earnest, parents face new events such as repeated diagnostic tests, drug injections, invasive procedures, and physical changes in their child.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainty and Nursing Needs of Parents with Pediatric Cancer Patients in Different Treatment Phases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Park

Suh

2021

IJERPH

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The survival rate of pediatric cancer has increased to 80%, but long-term treatment is required. During treatment, parents experience uncertainty, which affects parents’ quality of life and, even worse, their children’s health; however, the variation of that uncertainty remains under-studied. Thus, it is crucial to understand parents’ nursing needs in each distinct treatment phase to develop relevant educational content. This study investigated the uncertainty level and nursing needs of parents according to their children’s treatment phase. This cross-sectional comparative descriptive study collected survey data from 119 people at a tertiary hospital from December 2017 to April 2018. Nursing needs were ascertained using open-ended questions, and data were analyzed using quantitative content analysis. The uncertainty levels of parents of pediatric cancer patients showed statistically significant differences across treatment phases (F = 8.209, p < 0.001). Parents’ uncertainty was higher in the treatment initiation phase (87.77 ± 13.43) and when treatment was ongoing (83.33 ± 15.10) than in the post-treatment phase (75.35 ± 12.82). All three groups had nursing needs regarding infection control, diet, daily activities of living, and prognosis. Parents’ uncertainty levels and nursing needs differed across treatment phases, suggesting a need for tailored education programs to provide practical support to parents of pediatric cancer patients in each phase.

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“…We hypothesize that the project might help reducing expenses for families due to fewer travels and less personal days taken from work for both parents, but also missed daycare or school days for healthy siblings. Financial disruption could have a substantial influence on parental distress during and after treatment of childhood cancer and must be carefully considered [25,26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safety and family satisfaction of a home-delivered chemotherapy program for children with cancer

et al. 2021

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Background Home chemotherapy programs for children with cancer are safe and feasible, and their impact on the quality of life has been reported in different countries. A home chemotherapy program was implemented between 2011 and 2019 in an Italian region. This pilot study investigates its safety and feasibility, along with parental satisfaction. Methods Patients between 0 and 18 years diagnosed with malignancy were included. Deceased patients and patients whose families moved abroad or interrupted contact with the service were excluded. Adverse events comprised immediate deterioration of the patient’s condition, equipment failure, errors in drug storage, dose or patient identification and personnel safety issues. Parental satisfaction was explored through an email survey of 32 Likert-type and short open questions. Results Thirty-five patients received 419 doses of intravenous chemotherapy at home (cytarabine, vincristine, vinblastine). No adverse events were reported. Twenty-three families out of 25 eligible completed the survey. Most reported being “very satisfied” with the possibility of maintaining a work/domestic routine and reducing time and financial burden of hospital access. Most were “very satisfied” with the opportunity for their child of being less troubled by the treatment. Besides, most reported being “very satisfied” with the chance for healthy siblings of maintaining their routine and coping with their brother/sister’s disease. Most perceived the program as safe. All families recommended extending the program to all children in the region. Conclusions This first Italian study supports home chemotherapy as safe and effective, positively influencing the quality of life for children and their families.

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Fathers' psychological responses to pediatric cancer–induced financial distress

Cited by 17 publications

References 34 publications

A Balancing Act: Working and Caring for a Child with Cancer

A Balancing Act: Working and Caring for a Child with Cancer

Uncertainty and Nursing Needs of Parents with Pediatric Cancer Patients in Different Treatment Phases: A Cross-Sectional Study

Safety and family satisfaction of a home-delivered chemotherapy program for children with cancer

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