Abstract
This descriptive study explores daily experiences of 44 cancer-surviving parents, supporting a role for OTPs. Themes included impact of symptoms on occupational performance, concern for children, and need for supports.
Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Rachel Koszer
Additional Authors and Speakers: Peg Ingolia, Jana Iverson, Robin Mieli Newman
This study sought to understand the daily experiences of parents living with and beyond cancer (PLWBC). Parents with cancer face the challenge of addressing their own health needs while still fulfilling their parenting role (Moore et al., 2015; Tavares et al., 2017), making parenting an important survivorship issue for occupational therapy. Although existing literature has described some challenges of PLWBC, there is a need for deeper understanding of this experience. Specifically, there is limited information about how PLWBC manage everyday life. Detailed insight is needed to understand and support their occupational performance. This is a descriptive study of 44 PLWBC (19 mothers, 25 fathers). Participants were recruited via hospitals, cancer support groups and word of mouth. Interviews were conducted over password protected zoom. Inclusion criteria: any type or stage of cancer diagnosed within the last 10 years; parenting at least 1 child under 18 years of age, English speaking. Participants participated in recorded and transcribed semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six steps. Analysis revealed 3 main themes; (1) impact of symptom burden on occupational performance, (2) concern for children, (3) need for information and support. Cancer influenced daily occupations and co-occupations, leading to shifts in occupational performance and emotional responses, both positive and negative. Parents reported concerns for their children’s mental well-being, occupational performance and assumption of adult responsibilities. Parents expressed a need for information on how to talk to their children about cancer and a need for supportive care services for parents with cancer. The data illustrates experiences of PLWBC and gaps in knowledge, resources and supports that can be filled by supportive programming. This provides an important role for occupational therapy practitioners to support the needs of PLWBC.
Moore C. W., Rauch P. K., Baer L., Pirl W. F., Muriel A. C. (2015). Parenting changes in adults with cancer. Cancer,121(19), 3551–3557.
Tavares R., Brandão T., Matos P. M. (2017). Mothers with breast cancer: A mixed-method systematic review on the impact on the parent-child relationship. Psycho-Oncology, 27(2), 367–375.
Braun V., Clarke V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.