Experiences and Needs of Fathers of Children with Cancer in Coping with the Child's Disease

Karina Lõbus, Silver Muld, Kadri Kööp and Mare Tupits

Emergency Surgery Unit, North Estonia Medical Centre, Estonia
OÜ Perearst Piret Tammist, Estonia
Tallinn Health Care College, Estonia

^*Correspondance to: Kadri Kööp 

 PDF  Full Text Research Article | Open Access

Abstract:

Background and Purpose: An increasing number of the populations are affected by cancer, which causes the rise in demand for quality care. However, the nature of expected care is currently unclear as nurses complain that their knowledge of how to address the relatives of a patient with a difficult diagnosis is limited. The aim of this study is to describe the experiences and needs of fathers of children with cancer in coping with the child's disease.
Design and Methods: Design of this study is qualitative, empirical, and descriptive research. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by an inductive content analysis method. Interviews were conducted in autumn 2020 four subjects participated in the research.
Results: Fathers' experiences of coping with child's disease encompassed experiences with information, social relationships, health care, changes in personal health and experiences regarding the child. Fathers’ needs in relation to dealing with child's cancer included material, social, and spiritual needs.
Conclusion: The fathers emphasized the need for state assistance, and they also needed to be involved in the treatment process. The fathers need a simplified system, less paperwork, more financial benefits, deep prevention, and more home-like environment at hospital. Regarding spiritual needs, fathers expressed mixed feelings towards the need for external help.
Practice Implications: According to the research, too little attention is paid to men's mental health. Integration of research results into the curriculum of nurses allows nurses to understand men’s mental health problems and their management with emotionally hard situations.

Keywords:

Cancer; Child; Coping; Experience

Cite the Article:

Lõbus K, Muld S, Kööp K, Tupits M. Experiences and Needs of Fathers of Children with Cancer in Coping with the Child's Disease. Clin Oncol. 2022;7:1927..