Promoting resilience among parents and caregivers of children with cancer
Title
Promoting resilience among parents and caregivers of children with cancer
Creator
Rosenberg AR; Baker KS; Syrjala KL; Back AL; Wolfe J
Identifier
Publisher
Journal Of Palliative Medicine
Date
2013
Subject
Child; Female; Humans; Male; Young Adult; bereavement; Neoplasms; Terminal Care; Adult; Parents; Aged; Middle Aged; caregivers; Qualitative Research; Hospitals; Washington; Preschool; Psychological; Parent caregivers; Resilience; Urban
Description
BACKGROUND: Promoting resilience is an aspect of psychosocial care that affects patient and whole-family well-being. There is little consensus about how to define or promote resilience during and after pediatric cancer. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (1) to review the resilience literature in pediatric cancer settings; (2) to qualitatively ascertain caregiver-reported perceptions of resilience; and (3) to develop an integrative model of fixed and mutable factors of resilience among family members of children with cancer, with the goal of enabling better study and promotion of resilience among pediatric cancer families. METHODS: The study entailed qualitative analysis of small group interviews with eighteen bereaved parents and family members of children with cancer treated at Seattle Children's Hospital. Small-group interviews were conducted with members of each bereaved family. Participant statements were coded for thematic analysis. An integrative, comprehensive framework was then developed. RESULTS: Caregivers' personal appraisals of the cancer experience and their child's legacy shape their definitions of resilience. Described factors of resilience include baseline characteristics (i.e., inherent traits, prior expectations of cancer), processes that evolve over time (i.e., coping strategies, social support, provider interactions), and psychosocial outcomes (i.e., post-traumatic growth and lack of psychological distress). These elements were used to develop a testable model of resilience among family members of children with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience is a complex construct that may be modifiable. Once validated, the proposed framework will not only serve as a model for clinicians, but may also facilitate the development of interventions aimed at promoting resilience in family members of children with cancer.
2013-06
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Type
Journal Article
Citation List Month
Backlog
URL Address
Citation
Rosenberg AR; Baker KS; Syrjala KL; Back AL; Wolfe J, “Promoting resilience among parents and caregivers of children with cancer,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed April 26, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/14726.