School-aged and adolescent children's experience when a parent has non-terminal cancer: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to systematically review and synthesise qualitative studies pertinent to male and female school-aged and adolescent children's experience when a parent is diagnosed with non-terminal cancer.

METHODS

A rigorous systematic review and meta-synthesis process were conducted. Seven computerised databases were searched, and 2027 articles were retrieved. After screening the titles and abstracts, full texts of 24 articles were critically appraised, and finally, 16 articles were further analysed and synthesised with a thematic-synthesis approach.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified: being informed of parental cancer, emotional concerns, changes in daily life, seeking factual information and seeking emotional support. As indicated in the results, most children had been informed of the parent's diagnosis of cancer. They suffered from a wide range of concerns when facing the situation, and their lives had been interrupted to different degrees. In order to cope with the event, children adopted various strategies. Their information and support needs were reported to have been poorly met.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides insight into the scenario of children living with a parent with non-terminal cancer and indicates some suggestions for future studies. The experience of children when the father has cancer should be further explored. Short-term and long-term impacts of parental cancer on children, especially young children within different cultural contexts, should be investigated to help health care professionals provide individualised assistance to those children.