Needs of Parents of Children with Cancer for a Parent Supportive Meeting

Dwi  Susilawati; Mei Neni Sitaresmi; Sri Mulatsih; Krisna Handayani; Braghmandita Widya Indraswari; Gertjan Kaspers; Saskia Mostert

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.8042

Authors

Dwi Susilawati Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Child Health, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Mei Neni Sitaresmi Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Child Health, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-712X
Sri Mulatsih Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Child Health, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Krisna Handayani Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Braghmandita Widya Indraswari Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Child Health, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5194-0436
Gertjan Kaspers Emma’s Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Saskia Mostert Emma’s Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4583-8603

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8042

Keywords:

childhood cancer, parent supportive meetings, low-middle-income countries

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parent supportive meetings (PSM) may assist families in reducing the distress of having a child with cancer. Little is known about what parents regard as their needs for support.

AIM: The purposes of this study were to investigate the needs and preferences of parents of children with cancer for PSM and its determinants.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using semi-structured questionnaires. Parents of childhood cancer patients who attended an Indonesian academic hospital were recruited between March and July 2019.

RESULTS: Parents of 200 patients participated in this study (response rate 95%). Parents are interested in group (90%) and individual (84%) support to help them deal with stress related to their child’s illness. The best time to attend the supportive meeting is during treatment (53%), the best format is a drop-in basis (83%), and the best schedule is monthly (58%). Attendance is very important to: explore services and available support in the community (70%), get advice about family or relationship issues (62%), and learn how other parents cope with stress and anxiety (59%). Significantly more mothers (93%) than fathers (84%) are interested in supportive meetings (p = 0.046). More frequent meetings are preferred by low-educated (48%) than high-educated parents (31%, p = 0.015) and by younger (55%) than older parents (35%, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION: This study shows that parents of children with cancer at an Indonesian academic hospital are interested in monthly drop-in-based PSM during the whole treatment course to help them better cope with stress related to their child’s illness.

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