Quality of Life Research
Volume 21, Issue 9, 2012, Pages 1595-1605

Understanding the health impact of caregiving: A qualitative study of immigrant parents and single parents of children with cancer (Article)

Klassen A.F.* , Gulati S. , Granek L. , Rosenberg-Yunger Z.R.S. , Watt L. , Sung L. , Klaassen R. , Dix D. , Shaw N.T.
  • a Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, HSC 3N27, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4J9, Canada
  • b Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 3A, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
  • c Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 3A, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
  • d Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 3A, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
  • e School of Social Work, McMaster University, KTH-319, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4, Canada
  • f Division of Haematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
  • g Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON KIH 8L1, Canada
  • h Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, A119D, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 4C9, Canada
  • i Departments of Psychology and Sociology, Algoma University, 1520 Queen Street, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 2G4, Canada

Abstract

Purpose Research looking at the health of parents of children with cancer typically uses outcome measures focused on symptoms of anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress. Our team builds on this literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the health impact of caregiving. Methods Interviews were conducted with 79 Canadian parents of children with cancer at least 6 months postdiagnosis. Line-by-line coding was used to establish categories and themes. Constant comparison was used to examine relationships within and across codes and categories. Interviewing continued until no new themes emerged. Results Parents described health concerns as including sleep disturbance, daytime fatigue, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and changes in social roles. Parents described the positive impacts of caregiving as including gaining a greater appreciation for child and family and developing compassion, empathy, patience, inner strength, and new perspectives on life. Conclusion Parents of children with cancer can experience a range of health problems due to the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and the intensive and often prolonged nature of treatment and aftercare. Given the central role parents play as caregivers, it is crucial to understand the health impact of caregiving so that supportive interventions can be implemented as necessary. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012.

Author Keywords

qualitative research Neoplasms parents Quality of life Caregivers

Index Keywords

anxiety Parents depression sleep deprivation Caregivers psychological aspect neoplasm Neoplasms human Interview, Psychological Stress, Psychological mental stress Adaptation, Psychological pediatrics qualitative research quality of life Humans parent male Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female adaptive behavior Parent-Child Relations Psychometrics psychologic test Article psychometry adult migration Fatigue caregiver child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867985173&doi=10.1007%2fs11136-011-0072-8&partnerID=40&md5=0be6ae859f4d61fe9ab56ac5b51a0baa
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-011-0072-8
ISSN: 09629343
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English