Young children’s experiences of support when fearful during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia—A longitudinal interview study

Abstract

Fear is common in sick children who interact with the healthcare system, and children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are no exception. Perhaps their fear is unavoidable, yet all children have the right to adequate support in managing their situation.Such support can be especially important during a long, unpleasant course of treatment. This study focuses on the types of support from healthcare professionals and parents that 5-to-9-year-old children with ALL report as helping them when they feel scared.Age and development are associated with how children express hospital-related experiences (Lindeke et al., 2006). Although older children might have better verbal skills, younger children can also express their fear in practice and in research (Kassa et al., 2017;

It hurts to get forced: Children's narratives about restraint during medical procedures

“…Leibring and Anderzén-Carlsson 23 reported that children found restraint supportive when they were fearful in relation to their cancer treatment. Circumstances always influence how we experience a situation, and the fact that several participants in this study experienced fear related to medical procedures might have colored their experiences.…”

“…Karlsson et al 22 summarized that restraint assigns the child a passive role and causes panic, loss of control, and feelings of powerlessness. However, a recent study of children aged 5–9 years diagnosed with cancer offered an opposite perspective, as some of the children explained that they found it supportive to be physically or verbally forced to comply with certain procedures 23 …”

“…However, a recent study of children aged 5-9 years diagnosed with cancer offered an opposite perspective, as some of the children explained that they found it supportive to be physically or verbally forced to comply with certain procedures. 23 In 2021, Lucy Bray gathered an international collaborative expert group, iSUPPORT, that, after extensive consultation, developed rights-based standards for children undergoing clinical procedures. 24 Being involved in this work highlighted the need to let children's and young people's voices be heard regarding how restraint is experienced.…”

Development and Validation of a Revised VAS-Anxiety Measurement Tools for Preschool Hospitalized Children

“…Hospitalization for pre-schoolers is very stressful and potentially traumatising due to the hazardous new environment and medical procedures that can trigger anxiety, rage, powerlessness, and a loss of control (Godino-Iáez et al, 2020;Islaeli et al, 2020). The child is unable to do his routine activities Nurse Key (2020), and the worst scenario is when the children watch strangers in white uniforms in an unfamiliar environment (Kleye et al, 2021) and are afraid of needles and syringes (Leibring & Anderzén-Carlsson, 2022). A preschooler also experiences fears at a child's developmental stage, such as fear of darkness (Csonka, 2021).…”

“…Aggression, trouble sleeping or eating, or fear can be expressed through children's facial expressions and gestures and physiological changes in their bodies (Salmela, Aronen, & Salanterä, 2011). However, the response is highly individualised and dependent on the child's developmental age, previous illness history, and coping skills in the hospital (Kleye et al, 2021;Leibring & Anderzén-Carlsson, 2022).…”