Determining the needs of Chinese parents during the hospitalization of their child diagnosed with cancer: An exploratory study

In Hong Kong, as in other modern societies, cancer is the second cause of death among children. Studies show that childhood cancer affects all family members who frequently experience emotional and social problems resulting from managing the stress created by the disease and side effects of treatment. This subsequently results in parents experiencing a range of different needs. There is little evidence available of the needs of Chinese parents during the hospitalization of their child. An exploratory study was undertaken using indepth semistructured interviews with 5 parents recruited from the pediatric oncology ward of a regional hospital in Hong Kong. The parents were interviewed twice during the active treatment phase to explore their changing needs during this initial period of hospitalization. All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English before content analysis. The analysis of the parents' data identified 6 main categories common to both interviews: (i) the need for recognition of their reaction, (ii) the need for recognition of their fear of hospitalization, (iii) the need for support, (iv) the need for information, (v) the need for personal time, and (vi) finally the need for help in parenting skills were identified. The implications of these findings for nursing practice are presented.