“Share the Fear”: Communication Concerns of Parents with Cancer with Dependents and Coparents: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Study

Authors

Cinzia Caparso, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MIFollow
Zoe Bowen, Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
Sung Won Choi, Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Background: The estimated 1.6 million adults in the United States with cancer who also have dependents face unique challenges given the profound impact of cancer on their families, such as increased psychological distress, decreased quality of life, and altered family functioning. Unfortunately, little is known about the mutual cancer-related communication concerns for the perspectives of the parents with cancer or the coparents. Coparents care for the patient and dependents until they reach adulthood (e.g., unmarried, divorced, stepparent, and/or same-sex partnerships).

Objective: To understand the mutual cancer-related communication concerns from the perspectives of parents with cancer and the coparents and intervention delivery preferences.

Methods: Fifteen parents with cancer and 15 coparents were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews between October 2022 to September 2023 within an academic medical center in Midwestern states. Interviews were conducted via Zoom. The data were analyzed though Charmaz’s inductive grounded theory approach.

Results: Parents with cancer and the coparents desire communication assistance with each other about discussing the cancer diagnosis with dependents, end-of-life planning, managing finances, and addressing mental health concerns and emotions. The majority of participants reported interest in a virtually delivered intervention.

Conclusions: Findings from this study provide a mutual understanding of cancer-related communication concerns from the parents with cancer and the coparents perspectives. Implications for Practice: These findings provide awareness for providers and the foundation to inform a web-based communication intervention about cancer-related concerns to promote family resiliency in this population which provides a resource for providers to utilize.

Disciplines

Health Communication | Nursing

Comments

This is the accepted manuscript version of an article forthcoming in Cancer Nursing.

Recommended Citation

Caparso C, Bowen Z, Choi SW. “Share the Fear”: Communication Concerns of Parents with Cancer with Dependents and Coparents: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Study. (Accepted Manuscript). Cancer Nursing, 2024.