Families' experiences with palliative care services of children with cancer in Lebanon

Abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) Background: the impact of childhood cancer on the family has been studied in different cultures and continues to be an object of study and concern. In Lebanon, a country of 4 million people 282 new pediatric cases age <20 years were reported in 2004. Objectives: the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Lebanese families living with a child with cancer and receiving palliative care(PC) in a major referring center in Beirut. Method: the study followed purposeful sampling and saturation principles in which 12 parents (mother or father) of a child with cancer were interviewed. Data were analyzed following hermeneutical process as described by Diekelmann and Ironsides (1998). Results: A phenomenological approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of families of children with cancer. Five themes emerged from the data analysis. Under the third theme, five sub-themes emerged. 1. Dependence on God; 2. The "Shocking news"; 3. Changes in family life pattern, 3.1 Change of living conditions, 3.2 Added responsibility, 3.3 Emotional burden, 3.4 Loss of happiness, 3.5 Feelings of helplessnes; 4. Changes in family dynamics and 5. Fear of uncertainty. Conclusion: The significance of this study was to contribute to the knowledge that would help health care professionals understand the experiences and challenges that are faced by the Lebanese family with children receiving cancer pallaitive care. This understanding would help to motivate health care professionals in general and nurses in particular to make every effort to assist them and to explore ways to meet the needs of the Lebanese pediatric cancer patients.