Experience and coping strategies of parents regarding home care of children after a cancer diagnosis in on selected refferal hospital in Rwanda.

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 viii 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.