Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: June | Volume: 9 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 203-215
Quality of Life & Lived Experience of Mothers and Their Felt Needs of Children Diagnosed With Cancer in a Selected Hospital in Mangaluru - Pilot Study Report
Ms Seema S Chavan1, Mr. Charanraj K R2
1Associate Professor / HOD, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangalore
2PhD Scholar, Roshini Nilaya College of Social Work, Mangalore
Corresponding Author: Ms Seema S Chavan
ABSTRACT
Background: Family plays an important role in a child’s life more so when the child is sick and diagnosed with cancer. Parents of child with cancer face several challenges during the child’s sickness and affect their life.
Objectives:
- Quantitative To assess the Quality of life of mothers of children diagnosed with cancer
- To describe the mothers felt needs of children with cancer during their hospitalization
- To find association between Quality of life of mothers ,mothers felt needs of children diagnosed with cancer & selected demographic variables
- To find correlation between Quality of life of mothers & needs of children diagnosed with cancer
Qualitative
- To elucidate mothers lived experience during a child’s cancer treatment
Methods: A mixed method approach and sequential exploratory design was used. Subjects consist of 10 mothers of children with cancer for quantitative and 3 mothers for qualitative. Subjects were selected purposively and nested identical sampling was used.
Results: Study showed that majority (70%) of sample had their family income >Rs10,000/-
& half (50%) of sample had their family member affected with cancer. (40%) of Mothers of children with cancer had moderate QOL & (30%) had poor & good QOL. QOL score was highest in the care related area (78.5%) with mean±SD of 15.7±2.5 whereas least in the area of financial & spiritual (64.37%) with mean±SD of 10.3±4.6. Mothers felt needs of their children with cancer was highest (100%) in future condition, therapeutic choices, basic needs, doctors consultation, services from hospital, spiritual advice & abandoned within the society There was a strong positive correlation between Quality of life of mothers & mothers felt needs of children diagnosed with cancer (r=0.78;p<0.05). Meta inference showed that issues faced by the majority of the mothers of children with cancer were in areas related to Psychological (82.7%) followed by physical (80%), social relationship (75%) and spiritual (50%) related.
Interpretation and Conclusion: Study found that, majority of the mothers felt need about their child with cancer was 100%. in areas related to future condition, therapeutic choices, basic needs, doctors consultation, services from hospital regarding the affected child, spiritual advice & being abandoned within the society
Key words: Quality of life, lived experience, mothers felt needs and children with cancer