University of São Paulo at Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, São Paulo, Brazil.
J Nurs Scholarsh. 2010 Sep 1;42(3):250-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2010.01360.x.
The diagnosis of cancer and the treatment decisions associated with it may cause uncertainty, stress, and anxiety among parents. Emotional tensions can affect parents' relationships during the trajectory of the child's cancer illness. We conducted an integrative review to examine the evidence related to the effects of childhood cancer on parents' relationships.
An integrative literature search of studies published between 1997 and 2009 was conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Psychology Information (PsycINFO), PubMed, Scopus, CUIDEN, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature (LILACS). The key words used were neoplasms, child, marriage, spouses, family relations, and nursing. Articles were reviewed if the (a) topic addressed parents' relationships during childhood cancer; (b) participants were mothers, fathers, or both; (c) design was either qualitative or quantitative; (d) language was English, Portuguese, or Spanish; (e) date of publication was between January 1997 and October 2009; and (f) abstract was available.
Fourteen articles met the search criteria and were reviewed using Cooper's framework for integrative reviews. Four themes emerged: (a) changes in the parents' relationship during the trajectory of the child's illness; (b) difficulty in communication between couples; (c) gender differences in parental stress and coping; and (d) role changes.
Findings revealed positive and negative changes in parents' relationships, communication, stress, and roles. Nurses need to assess the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatments on parent relationships, offer support and encouragement, and allow expression of feelings. Future research is needed to develop and test interventions that increase parents' potentials and strengthen relationships during the challenging trajectory of their children's cancer and treatment.
The multiple sources of stress and uncertainty associated with a child's cancer diagnosis and treatment affect parents' relationships. Difficulties in communication appear frequently in parents' relationship. Our findings may guide healthcare professionals in identifying parents at risk for developing conflicts, communication problems, and lack of alignment between parents that could interfere with providing optimal care for their child with cancer. Healthcare professionals may promote dialogue and encourage parents to express their feelings, seek mutual support, and establish a partnership in dealing with the child's illness.
癌症的诊断和相关治疗决策可能会给父母带来不确定性、压力和焦虑。情绪紧张会影响父母在孩子癌症患病过程中的关系。我们进行了一项综合审查，以研究与儿童癌症对父母关系的影响相关的证据。
对 1997 年至 2009 年期间发表的研究进行了综合文献检索，检索范围包括 Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)、Psychology Information (PsycINFO)、PubMed、Scopus、CUIDEN 和 Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature (LILACS)。使用的关键词包括肿瘤、儿童、婚姻、配偶、家庭关系和护理。如果文章（a）主题涉及儿童癌症期间父母的关系；（b）参与者为母亲、父亲或两者；（c）设计为定性或定量；（d）语言为英语、葡萄牙语或西班牙语；（e）出版日期为 1997 年 1 月至 2009 年 10 月；以及（f）摘要可用，则对文章进行审查。
有 14 篇文章符合搜索标准，并使用库珀综合审查框架进行了审查。出现了四个主题：（a）孩子患病过程中父母关系的变化；（b）夫妻之间沟通困难；（c）父母压力和应对方面的性别差异；以及（d）角色变化。
研究结果显示父母关系、沟通、压力和角色发生了积极和消极的变化。护士需要评估癌症诊断和治疗对父母关系的影响，提供支持和鼓励，并允许表达感受。需要进一步研究以开发和测试干预措施，这些措施可以增加父母在孩子癌症和治疗挑战性轨迹中的潜力并加强关系。
与儿童癌症诊断和治疗相关的多种压力源和不确定性会影响父母的关系。沟通困难在父母关系中经常出现。我们的研究结果可能指导医疗保健专业人员识别有发生冲突、沟通问题和父母之间缺乏一致性风险的父母，这些问题可能会干扰为其患有癌症的孩子提供最佳护理。医疗保健专业人员可以促进对话，鼓励父母表达感受，寻求相互支持，并建立合作关系以应对孩子的疾病。
