Identification of Psycho-Social Needs and Coping Strategies in Iranian Children with Cancer
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Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that cancer creates a variety of problems and issues for children with cancer. It creates unique challenges for both the patients and their families. Despite the severe stress associated with these problems, most children are able to adequately cope with and adapt to cancer. However, some of the patients experience more severe or prolonged problems that require psychological support. The present study investigated the needs and coping strategies of Iranian children aged 9 to 13 with cancer. The goal was to determine the needs, concerns and coping strategies in children after being diagnosed with cancer.Methods: For this purpose, 12 children aged 9-13 with cancer as well as their mothers were selected from among children admitted to Mofid hospital. Patient selection was conducted in a purposeful sampling method. Data was collected in an in-depth semi-structured interview with the child and their mother and then analyzed using content analysis method.Results: The content analysis of individual interviews with the child and mother showed that the main concerns of these children were related to the hospital space, support, society, family and educational needs, which were responded to by five distinct types of coping. These coping methods include spiritual coping, admission ofsupport and assistance, visiting relatives (on a regular basis) in a positive manner and negative behaviors such as active and passive aggression and avoiding presence in the community and society. The findings of this study indicate that Iranian children with cancer have special needs some of which have mental and emotional aspects, including worry about being a burden on their families, and they use different coping strategies to cope with their condition. One of the most important means of coping with cancer are family and relatives.Conclusion: Treatment centers should address these factors in order to improve the mental and physical health of their patients.
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19. Gambrel PA, Cianci R. Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Does it apply in a collectivist culture. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship. 2003; 8(2): 143.
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21. Hokkanen H, Eriksson E, Ahonen O, Salantera S. Adolescents with cancer: experience of life and how it could be made easier. Cancer nursing. 2004; 27(4): 325-35.
22. Kyngäs H, Mikkonen R, Nousiainen EM, Rytilahti M, Seppänen P, Vaattovaara R, Jämsä T. Coping with the onset of cancer: coping strategies and resources of young people with cancer. European journal of cancer care. 2001; 10(1): 6-11.
2. Whyte F, Smith L. A literature review of adolescence and cancer. European Journal of Cancer Care. 1997; 6(2): 137-46.
3. Crain W. Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications. Psychology Press; 2015.
4. Sender L, Zabokrtsky KB. Adolescent and young adult patients with cancer: a milieu of unique features. Nature reviews Clinical oncology. 2015; 12(8): 465.
5. Abrams AN, Hazen EP, Penson RT. Psychosocial issues in adolescents with cancer. Cancer treatment reviews. 2007; 33(7): 622-30.
6. Stegenga K, Ward-Smith P. On receiving the diagnosis of cancer: the adolescent perspective. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. 2009; 26(2): 75-80.
7. Zebrack BJ. Psychological, social, and behavioral issues for young adults with cancer. Cancer. 2011; 117(S10): 2289-94.
8. Epelman CL. The adolescent and young adult with cancer: state of the art-psychosocial aspects. Current oncology reports. 2013; 15(4):325-31.
9. Rowland JH. Developmental stage and adaptation: Adult model. Handbook of psychooncology; 1989.
10. Yuan C, Wei C, Wang J, Qian H, Ye X, Liu Y, Hinds PS. Self-efficacy difference among patients with cancer with different socioeconomic status: Application of latent class analysis and standardization and decomposition analysis. Cancer epidemiology. 2014; 38(3): 298-306.
11. Kupst MJ, Patenaude AF. Coping and adaptation in pediatric cancer: Current perspectives. InPediatric psychosocial oncology: Textbook for multidisciplinary care. Springer, Cham; 2016.
12. Compas BE, Desjardins L, Vannatta K, Young-Saleme T, Rodriguez EM, Dunn M, Bemis H, Snyder S, Gerhardt CA. Children and adolescents coping with cancer: Self-and parent reports of coping and anxiety/depression. Health Psychology. 2014; 33(8):853..
13. Simms S, Kazak AE, Golomb V, Goldwein J, Bunin N. Cognitive, behavioral, and social outcome in survivors of childhood stem cell transplantation. Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 2002; 24(2): 115-9.
14. Elo S, Kyngäs H. The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of advanced nursing. 2008; 62(1): 107-15.
15. Ettinger RS, Heiney SP. Cancer in adolescents and young adults. Psychosocial concerns, coping strategies, and interventions. Cancer. 1993; 71(S10): 3276-80.
16. Penn A, Kuperberg A, Zebrack BJ. Psychosocial issues in adolescent and young adult patients and survivors. InCancer in Adolescents and Young Adults. Springer, Cham; 2017.
17. Abrams AN, Muriel AC, Wiener L, editors. Pediatric psychosocial oncology: Textbook for multidisciplinary care. Springer International Publishing; 2016.
18. Orr DP, Hoffmans MA, Bennetts G. Adolescents with cancer report their psychosocial needs. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 1984; 2(2): 47-59.
19. Gambrel PA, Cianci R. Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Does it apply in a collectivist culture. Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship. 2003; 8(2): 143.
20. Kreuter MW, Lukwago SN, Bucholtz DC, Clark EM, Sanders-Thompson V. Achieving cultural appropriateness in health promotion programs: targeted and tailored approaches. Health Education & Behavior. 2003; 30(2): 133-46.
21. Hokkanen H, Eriksson E, Ahonen O, Salantera S. Adolescents with cancer: experience of life and how it could be made easier. Cancer nursing. 2004; 27(4): 325-35.
22. Kyngäs H, Mikkonen R, Nousiainen EM, Rytilahti M, Seppänen P, Vaattovaara R, Jämsä T. Coping with the onset of cancer: coping strategies and resources of young people with cancer. European journal of cancer care. 2001; 10(1): 6-11.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 11 No 3 (2019) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/bccr.v11i3.5717 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Psycho-social needs Coping strategies Children Cancer | ||
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Zarani F, Panaghi L, Mirzaei S, Helmi S. Identification of Psycho-Social Needs and Coping Strategies in Iranian Children with Cancer. Basic Clin Cancer Res. 2019;11(3):124-134.
