Breast cancer in young families: a qualitative interview study of fathers and their role and communication with their children following the diagnosis of maternal breast cancer

Forrest, Gillian C.; Plumb, Caroline; Ziébland, Sue; Stein, Alan

doi:10.1002/pon.1387

Cited by 61 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…They told their parents and clinicians that they were satisfied with their direct engagement, without parents present, with the specialists because in this way they felt they were an important part of the family system and they understood that in their families no lies were being told about the illness and so they could trust their parents. Some studies underline that communication and expressiveness in families can be identified as a key issue in children's positive coping with parental illness [10,13]. Our findings in fact underlined the absence of psychological problems in children after the intervention.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

How to Explain the Parent's Cancer to their Children: A Specific Intervention to Enhance Communication Inside the Family

Gallina¹,

Mazza²

2016

Clinics Mother Child Health

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Objective: This article describes a multidisciplinary intervention dedicated to patients with cancer and with underage children. It is well known that children of severely ill parents can develop emotional and behavioral problems. Different studies underline the efficacy of an open communication with children about the parent's illness to reduce distress but also the difficulties of parents to explain it to their children. The intervention, realized at San Gerardo Hospital, aims to inform or improve the children's knowledge of their parent's cancer, and to open communication about cancer inside the family.Methods: This intervention is characterized by the integration of a psychologist and a pediatric hematooncologist and by the direct involvement of children. After the fact-finding parents sessions, the pediatric hematooncologist and the psychologist meet children in specific settings, without parents present, to describe, with the support of images and metaphors, the parent's cancer and to understand children's needs or fears. In particular the pediatric hemato-oncologyst uses the flowered garden metaphor to explain to children the parent's illness and the treatments. Then the clinicians share the content of the previous sessions with parents. Counseling sessions to parents are also organized to increase the parental competence and the sharing of cancer-related concerns in the family. In addition, a specific questionnaire has been realized to evaluate children's psychological conditions after the intervention, family atmosphere and parents' satisfaction.Results: 36 families and 53 children have participated in the project up to now. The results of the questionnaires have underlined the absence of psychopathological symptoms in children, the presence of more collaboration in the families and more possibilities in the family to have an open communication about the cancer. In addition, most of the parents reported a considerable satisfaction with the intervention. Conclusion:Support for open communication in the family about cancer should be acknowledged as an important aspect of oncology care to reduce family stress.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

How to Explain the Parent's Cancer to their Children: A Specific Intervention to Enhance Communication Inside the Family

Gallina¹,

Mazza²

2016

Clinics Mother Child Health

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“…However, despite a wide-ranging literature search supported by an information specialist, we found little research on the subsequent process -when patients tell family members/friends their bad news. A few studies have explored communicating a parental cancer diagnosis to children and adolescents [13,14], particularly in relation to breast cancer [15][16][17] and genetic risk for cancer [18][19][20]. However there is a dearth of literature relating how patients relay bad news of a cancer diagnosis to adult significant others, what we refer to here as sharing bad news.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sharing news of a lung cancer diagnosis with adult family members and friends: a qualitative study to inform a supportive intervention

Ewing

Ngwenya

Benson

et al. 2016

Patient Education and Counseling

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Objective Extensive research exists on breaking bad news by clinicians. This study examines perspectives of patients and those accompanying them at diagnosis-giving of subsequently sharing news of lung cancer with adult family/friends, and views of healthcare professionals, to inform development of a supportive intervention. MethodsQualitative interviews with 20 patients, 17 accompanying persons; focus groups and interviews with 27 healthcare professionals from four Thoracic Oncology Units. Intervention development workshops with 24 healthcare professionals and six service users with experience of sharing a cancer diagnosis. Framework thematic analysis. ResultsPatients and accompanying persons shared news of lung cancer whilst coming to terms with the diagnosis. They recalled general support from healthcare professionals but not support with sharing bad news. Six elements were identified providing a framework for a potential intervention: 1-people to be told, 2-information to be shared, 3-timing of sharing, 4-responsibility for sharing, 5-methods of telling others and 6-reactions of those told. ConclusionThis study identifies the challenge of sharing bad news and a potential framework to guide delivery of a supportive intervention tailored to individual needs of patients. Practice ImplicationsThe identified framework could extend the portfolio of guidance on communication in cancer and potentially in other life-limiting conditions.

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“…Earlier studies have reported that more than a quarter of women diagnosed with breast cancer have children living at home (Bloom & Kessler, 1994) and these mothers tend to experience difficulties in meeting the needs of their children in addition to their own needs (Dunn & Steginga, 2000). In families with children living at home, the partner may have to take responsibility for organizing the day-to-day lives of their children, meeting their emotional as well as physical needs (Forrest, Plumb, Ziebland, & Stein, 2009). While most mothers and fathers want to keep life "normal" for their children (Forrest et al, 2009;Stiffler, Haase, Hosei, & Barada, 2008), this may not be possible during treatment and couples could get totally overwhelmed, feeling isolated and helpless, with increased parental responsibilities on top of everything else (Rayson, 2001).…”

Section: Couple Relationships After a Diagnosis Of Breast Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In families with children living at home, the partner may have to take responsibility for organizing the day-to-day lives of their children, meeting their emotional as well as physical needs (Forrest, Plumb, Ziebland, & Stein, 2009). While most mothers and fathers want to keep life "normal" for their children (Forrest et al, 2009;Stiffler, Haase, Hosei, & Barada, 2008), this may not be possible during treatment and couples could get totally overwhelmed, feeling isolated and helpless, with increased parental responsibilities on top of everything else (Rayson, 2001). Reviews of studies on parents' experience following a diagnosis of cancer have revealed themes that are important to parents, such as being a good parent, telling the children, and maintaining routine at home, highlighting their support needs (Semple & McCance, 2010).…”

Section: Couple Relationships After a Diagnosis Of Breast Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

Couple relationships in families with dependent children after a diagnosis of maternal breast cancer in the United Kingdom: Perspectives from mothers and fathers

Corney

Puthussery

Swinglehurst

2016

Journal of Psychosocial Oncology

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This article examines the facilitators and the barriers to couple relationships in families in the UK with dependent children after a diagnosis of maternal breast cancer. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 participants, including 10 couples and three women whose partners did not take part. Recorded interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach identifying themes and patterns in the interview transcripts and categorizing them using a framework. Key individual and contextual factors perceived as barriers or facilitators to couple relationships included: being a "young" family with young children, frustration and resentment from male partners, women's reactions to the illness, individual communication styles, differing needs for "personal space," body image concerns, and social support. Findings indicated the need for strengthening "family focus" in services with adequate support for male partners. Health and family services should consider variability in the experiences of couples with dependent children and be sensitive to the needs of partners alongside the women.

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Breast cancer in young families: a qualitative interview study of fathers and their role and communication with their children following the diagnosis of maternal breast cancer

Cited by 61 publications

References 23 publications

How to Explain the Parent's Cancer to their Children: A Specific Intervention to Enhance Communication Inside the Family

How to Explain the Parent's Cancer to their Children: A Specific Intervention to Enhance Communication Inside the Family

Sharing news of a lung cancer diagnosis with adult family members and friends: a qualitative study to inform a supportive intervention

Couple relationships in families with dependent children after a diagnosis of maternal breast cancer in the United Kingdom: Perspectives from mothers and fathers

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