Charlotte Ångström-Brännström

Parents' experiences of what comforts them when their child is suffering from cancer

The aim of the study was to describe parents’ narratives concerning what they find comforting when they have a child suffering from cancer. Interviews were conducted with 9 parents—8 mothers and 1 father—of children aged 3 to 9 years who were admitted to a pediatric oncology ward and had undergone their first treatment. The findings showed that the parents derived comfort from being close to their child, perceiving the child’s strength, feeling at home in the ward, being a family and being at home, and receiving support from their social network. Comfort experienced in communion with the child and others became important and helped the parents build a new normality perceived as being at home in life despite all their difficulties. Within the frame of communion, the parents seemed to experience moments of hope for their child’s recovery and survival.

Children undergoing cancer treatment describe their experiences of comfort in interviews and drawings.

Children with cancer often undergo a long course of treatment, described as painful, and associated with feelings of discomfort and need of comfort. The aim of this descriptive interview study was to investigate how children, aged 3 to 9 years, undergoing cancer treatment describe their experience of comfort. The children were interviewed and asked to make drawings. Data were content analyzed and four themes were constructed—enduring discomfort, expressing discomfort, finding comfort, and comforting others. The findings show that the children endured discomfort during treatment, and were sometimes able to express it. They found comfort especially from their family and from hospital staff. The children also described that they comforted family members. The findings are in accordance with previous research about children’s and adults’ accounts of comfort. An incidental finding is that parents were surprised when they listened to the children’s accounts of their experience of discomfort and comfort and achieved a better understanding of their children.

It Is Tough and Tiring but It Works--Children's Experiences of Undergoing Radiotherapy.

Approximately 300 children ages 0 to 18 are diagnosed with cancer in Sweden every year, and 80 to 90 of them undergo radiotherapy treatment. The aim was to describe children’s experiences of preparing for and undergoing radiotherapy, and furthermore to describe children’s suggestions for improvement. Thirteen children between the ages of 5 and 15 with various cancer diagnoses were interviewed. Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed five categories: positive and negative experiences with hospital stays and practical arrangements; age-appropriate information, communication, and guidance to various degrees; struggle with emotions; use of distraction and other suitable coping strategies; and children’s suggestions for improvement during radiotherapy. An overarching theme emerged: “It is tough and tiring but it works”. Some key areas were: explanatory visits, the need for information and communication, being afraid, discomfort and suffering, the need for media distraction, dealing with emotions, and the need for support. A systematic, family-centered preparation program could possible help families prepare and individualized distraction during radiotherapy could contribute to reducing distress. Further studies with interventions could clarify successful programs.

Children Undergoing Radiotherapy: Swedish Parents' Experiences and Suggestions for Improvement

Approximately 300 children, from 0 to 18 years old, are diagnosed with cancer in Sweden every year. Of these children, 80–90 of them undergo radiotherapy treatment for their cancer. Although radiotherapy is an encounter with advanced technology, few studies have investigated the child’s and the parent’s view of the procedure. As part of an ongoing multicenter study aimed to improve patient preparation and the care environment in pediatric radiotherapy, this article reports the findings from interviews with parents at baseline. The aim of the present study was twofold: to describe parents’ experience when their child undergoes radiotherapy treatment, and to report parents’ suggestions for improvements during radiotherapy for their children. Sixteen mothers and sixteen fathers of children between 2–16 years old with various cancer diagnoses were interviewed. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings showed that cancer and treatment turns people’s lives upside down, affecting the entire family. Further, the parents experience the child’s suffering and must cope with intense feelings. Radiotherapy treatment includes preparation by skilled and empathetic staff. The parents gradually find that they can deal with the process; and lastly, parents have suggestions for improvements during the radiotherapy treatment. An overarching theme emerged: that despair gradually turns to a sense of security, with a sustained focus on and close interaction with the child. In conclusion, an extreme burden was experienced around the start of radiotherapy, though parents gradually coped with the process.

Victor and the Dragon. : A Young Child's Experiences of Discomfort and Comfort, From Diagnosis Until Death

Children with progressive cancer often suffer during treatment and at the end of their life, and they need comfort. This study’s aim was to describe a child’s experiences of being cared for until death, with a focus on discomfort and comfort. Conversations, field notes, drawings, and interviews with the child and his mother and nurse were content analyzed. The themes “enduring unbearable situations,” “expressing emotional suffering,” and “finding comfort” were constructed. The children’s parents and other family members are often a significant source of help for the children to endure discomfort and find comfort. Emotional suffering can be expressed in drawing and crying, but sometimes, a child is inconsolable and must endure discomfort. Comfort for a dying child is enhanced by having the family close, experiencing normal daily activities such as drawing and playing, and feeling at home in life despite approaching death.

Parents’ Experiences and Responses to an Intervention for Psychological Preparation of Children and Families During the Child’s Radiotherapy:

The aim of this study was to evaluate parents’ experiences and responses to a systematic intervention for psychological preparation of children and families during the child’s radiotherapy (RT) treatment. In this case-control study at 3 pediatric RT centers, an intervention with a preparatory kit, including age-adjusted information on tablets, gift of a stuffed toy or a pair of headphones, a parent booklet, and toy models of the computed tomography and RT machines was implemented. For evaluation, a mixed methods data collection was conducted. A total of 113 parents of children undergoing RT were included—n = 59 in the baseline group and n = 54 in the intervention group. Health-related quality of life was rated low, but parents in the intervention group expressed less anxiety after the RT compared with the baseline group. They found information suitable for their young children, siblings, and friends were involved and the toy models were used for play. Parents expressed positive feelings due to close interaction with staff and each other within the family. The solutions developed within a human-centered design approach and shaped as a systematic family-centered strategy contributed to parents understanding and coping with the child’s RT.

Comforting measures described by staff working in paediatric units

Aim Children with cancer identify staff members, who work with them in paediatric units, as their most important comforters. This study aimed to shed light on how those staff members deliver this comfort. Methods Semi-structured interviews were performed and the content then analysed. Nine families (n=9) and eight staff members (n=8) participated in the study. Findings The staff described caring for the children and the whole family. They implemented certain comforting measures with the child, and described how they provided support to parents. Staff described how they felt comforted by relating to the children they were caring for. Conclusion Staff working in paediatric units develop good relationships with children and parents and comfort them using methods described in the literature. The quality of the staffs positive relationships with the children marked all their actions.

Descriptions of Comfort in the Social Networks Surrounding a Dying Child

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how comforters of one dying child were comforted, described by the childs mother and nurse. Background: The death of a child is one of the greatest losses parents can sustain and a stressful experience for nurses. Those who provide comfort may also need comfort, yet little is known about how comforters are comforted. Method: The interviews with mother and nurse were analysed using content analysis. Persons and activities mentioned as comforting were outlined in a sociogram. Findings: The findings show that the mother received comfort from her child and family, the nurse, extended family and others close to the family. She found comfort in being involved in the care and sharing worries with the nurse and in self-comfort. She described that siblings found comfort in each other, in living everyday life, in music and in expressing their feelings in drawings. The nurse gained comfort from sharing hardships with colleagues and a relative and from making a difference to the child. Conclusion: The findings provide a picture of interacting comforting social networks surrounding one dying child.