A qualitative exploration of parents' perspectives of family members' well-being and family dynamics during childhood cancer treatment.
AI interpretation is pending for this paper.
Open original publication →What the AI sees
Not AI summarized yet.
Research significance
Pending deeper interpretation.
Source abstract
Navigating through a child's cancer treatment journey is challenging for a family. Understanding family members' experiences helps identify their needs and how they can be supported during a child's cancer treatment. This study aimed to explore parents' perceptions of how their child's cancer treatment impacts family members' well-being and family dynamics. Semi-structured interviews with parents of children diagnosed with cancer (N = 18) were conducted to explore parental perceptions of family members' experiences. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: disruption to daily life and relationships, impact on siblings, parents' emotional and psychological impact and role changes, and navigating separation and family dynamics during treatment. This study provides important contributions to a broader understanding of how family members are affected, from a parental perspective, during childhood cancer treatment in the UK. Enforced separation of family units during hospital stay has an impact on family dynamics and family members' well-being. This study highlights parents' need for support and important considerations for healthcare professionals implementing family-based support during paediatric cancer treatment.