Zhou Tianji, Xiong Wenjin, Meng Zhenyu, Yu Nancy Xiaonan, Zhang Jingping, Luo Yuanhui
Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2025 Oct;78:102965. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102965. Epub 2025 Aug 20.
Parental problem-solving is strongly associated with their psychosocial adjustment when facing their children's cancer. However, a comprehensive understanding of the major problems parents encounter and how they address these problems remains limited. This study aimed to explore parental problem-solving experiences during their children's cancer treatment processes.
A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals in mainland China. A sample of 35 informants was recruited, comprising 22 parents who participated in individual interviews and a focus group interview that included eight additional parents and five healthcare providers. Data were analyzed based on Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework.
Three overarching themes were identified. First, "The burden of caregiving is suffocating me" captured parents' overwhelming experiences of caregiving, characterized by emotional distress, physical exhaustion, social isolation, and the need to constantly manage complex medical challenges, children's psychological changes, and ongoing uncertainty about the future. Second, "Our entire family's routine has been disrupted" described role strain, marital tension, and financial pressures that reverberated throughout the household. Third, "Three choices to cope with problems" portrayed the distinct styles parents adopt when solving problems: "positivity and rationality," "passivity and avoidance," and "impulsivity and carelessness."
This study provides valuable insights into the multiple and intensive challenges parents face and their various problem-solving styles during the problem-solving journey. These findings can aid healthcare providers in designing targeted interventions to enhance their problem-solving skills. The implementation of problem-solving skills training is recommended to assist parents in managing challenges effectively and overcoming dysfunctional problem-solving styles.
在面对孩子患癌症的情况时，父母解决问题的能力与其心理社会适应密切相关。然而，对于父母所遇到的主要问题以及他们如何应对这些问题的全面理解仍然有限。本研究旨在探索父母在孩子癌症治疗过程中的问题解决经历。
在中国大陆的三家三级医院开展了一项描述性现象学研究。招募了35名信息提供者，包括22名参与个人访谈的父母以及一个焦点小组访谈，该焦点小组访谈还包括另外8名父母和5名医疗服务提供者。基于科莱齐的描述性分析框架对数据进行分析。
确定了三个总体主题。首先，“照顾负担令我窒息”体现了父母在照顾过程中压倒性的经历，其特点是情绪困扰、身体疲惫、社交孤立，以及需要不断应对复杂的医疗挑战、孩子的心理变化和对未来持续的不确定性。其次，“我们整个家庭的日常生活被打乱了”描述了角色紧张、婚姻关系紧张和经济压力，这些压力在整个家庭中产生了影响。第三，“应对问题的三种选择”描绘了父母在解决问题时采用的不同方式：“积极与理性”、“消极与回避”以及“冲动与粗心”。
本研究为父母在解决问题过程中面临的多重且强烈的挑战以及他们的各种问题解决方式提供了有价值的见解。这些发现有助于医疗服务提供者设计有针对性的干预措施，以提高他们解决问题的能力。建议实施解决问题技能培训，以帮助父母有效应对挑战并克服功能失调的问题解决方式。
