Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T20:16:09.719Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Being a parent and coping with cancer: Intervention development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2011

Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon  and
Michal Braun
Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Michal Braun
Affiliation:
The New School of Psychology, Interdiciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Diagnosis of a parent's cancer has a profound influence on the parent, the children and the child–parent relationship, and puts all family members at risk for psychological distress. This article describes the development and the first attempts at implementation of an intervention aimed at helping people cope with difficulties arising from being both parents and cancer patients.

Methods:

Based on themes discussed in focus groups with parents coping with cancer and with professionals in the field, a four-module psychological intervention was developed. The modules are: Telling and Sharing, Children’ Responses, Routine and Changes, and Learning and Awareness as a Parent. The techniques used are mainly psycho-educational and cognitive–behavioral.

Results:

Preliminary experience showed this intervention to be more feasible as a one-day workshop than as a four-session intervention. Parents who participated in two workshops reported it to be helpful in empowering them as parents and in imparting learning tools for identifying their children's needs, as well as for communicating with their children.

Significance of results:

Intervention tailored specifically for parents coping with cancer can be relevant for their special needs. Research is needed to establish the effectiveness of this intervention.

Keywords

InterventionParentingCancerChildren
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 149 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barns, J., Kroll, L., Burke, O., et al. (2000). Qualitative interview study of communication between parents and children about maternal breast cancer. British Medical Journal, 321, 749–482.Google Scholar
Bedway., A. & Smith, L.H. (1996). For kids only: Development of a program for children from families with a cancer patient. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 14, 19–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Billhult, A. & Segesten, K. (2003). Strength of motherhood: Nonrecurrent breast cancer as experienced by mothers with dependent children. Scandivian Journal of Caring Sciences, 17, 122–128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chirst, G.H., Siegel, K. & Sperber, D. (1994). Impact of parental terminal cancer on adolescents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64, 604–613.Google Scholar
Dunn, J. & Steginga, S.K. (2000). Young women's experience of breast cancer: defining young and identifying concerns. Psychooncology, 9, 137–146.3.0.CO;2-0>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitch, M.I., Bunston, T. & Elliot, M. (1999). When mom's sick: Changes in a mother's role and in the family after her diagnosis of cancer. Cancer Nursing, 22, 58–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamilton, J. (2001). When a Parent is Sick. Nova Scotia: Pottersfield Press.Google Scholar
Hilton, B.A. & Elfert, H. (1996). Children's experience with mothers’ early breast cancer. Cancer Practice, 4, 96–104.Google ScholarPubMed
Kennedy, V.L. & Lloyd-Williams, M. (2009). How children cope when a parent has advanced cancer. Psychooncology, 18, 886–892.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, F.M. Casey, S.M. Brandt, P.A., et al. (2006). The enhancing connections program: pilot study of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for mothers and children affected by breast cancer. Psychooncology, 15, 486–497.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, E. & While, T.O. (2001). Children's adjustment during the first year of a parent's cancer diagnosis. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 29, 15–36.Google Scholar
Nelson, E., Sloper, P., Charlton, A., et al. (1994). Children who have a parent with cancer: a pilot study. Journal of Cancer Education, 9, 30–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shands, M.E., Lewis, F.M. & Zahlis, E.H. (2000). Mother and child interactions about the mother's breast cancer: An interview study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 27, 77–85.Google ScholarPubMed
Spira, M. & Kenemore, E. (2000). Adolescent daughters of mothers with breast cancer: Impact and implications. Clinical Social Work Journal, 28, 183–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siegel, K., Mesagno, F.P. & Christ, G. (1990). A prevention program for bereaved children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60, 168–175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, J., Clavarino, A., Yates, P., et al. (2008). Enhancing the supportive care of parents with advanced cancer: development of a self-directed educational manual. European Journal of Cancer, 44, 1625–1631.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thastum, M., Waston, M., Kienbacher, C., et al. (2009). Prevalence and predictors of emotional and behavioral functioning of children where a parent has cancer: A multinational study. Cancer, 115, 4030–4039.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Visser, A., Huizinga, G.A., van der Graaf, W.T.A., et al. (2004). The impact of parental cancer on children and the family: A review of the literature. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 30, 683–694.CrossRefGoogle Scholar