Abstract:
Background: Homecare towards childhood cancer has recently gained acceptance
by a number of country and Rwanda included, taking care of children diagnosed
with cancer while being at home may have positive implications for patients and
their families, but it may also be burdensome to the caregivers with implications for
their health and well-being.
The purpose of the study: This study is aiming at exploring the experience and
coping strategies of parents about home care of children diagnosed with cancer at
Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK)
Methods: This study used qualitative approach, phenomenological design where 10
participants (4key informants and 6 participants grouped in a focus group)
participated in a semi structured interview and got audiotaped throughout the
discussion. The researcher specifically gathered information using a purposive
sampling method on a total population type of it. The researcher selected parents
whose children were diagnosed with cancer by meeting them in a convenient place
preferably at Kigali Teaching Hospital as a study site in a pre-organized space. The
data were transcribed on transcripts then codes were assigned and finally themes
were generated through thematic analysis using Hycner version.
Results: The analysis of the findings revealed the negative experience with regard
to challenges and some diverse individual coping strategies of parents whose
children are diagnosed with pediatric cancer towards home care. The thematic
analysis revealed the following themes concerning experience were identified
:knowing that homecare giving was laborious, feeling inadequate, feeling uncertain
and feeling helpless ,concerning coping strategies the analysis revealed the
following themes : Getting my Mind off the current situation ,balancing my
Emotion ,keeping life as normal as possible finding and accepting Support from
family and friends and spiritual support with homecare
Conclusion: These studies revealed parents whose children are diagnosed with
cancer feel like a never-ending struggle. Regardless of the substantial progress in
the treatment of cancer, childhood cancer is still emotionally, physically, and
psychologically draining, nevertheless the experienced challenges enabled the
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parents to come up with different personal strategies to cope up with homecare
giving demands. It is evident that not only parents need their family support but also
their need healthcare systems support.
