Fear, coping and support: from the perspective of children aged 10-17-year old having acute lymphoblastic leukemia
2024 (English)In: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, ISSN 1748-2623, E-ISSN 1748-2631, Vol. 19, no 1, article id 2310147
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose: To describe experiences of fear, coping, and support in 10-17-year-old children under treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Methods: A longitudinal descriptive qualitative design was adopted. Ten children participated in one to three interviews each (24 interviews in all). Interviews were analysed using a matrix-based qualitative method.
Results: The variety of fears described related to uncertainty, pain and medical procedures, bodily changes and loss of control, complications, professionals' attitudes, affected school results, and social isolation. Children used various strategies to deal with fear: some more general, to cope with the whole situation, and others more related to specific events such as treatment and tests. The most reported strategies we labelled Accepting the situation, Positive thinking, and Being an active agent. Less favourable strategies were also reported. Health care professionals, families, and friends offered valuable, but different kinds of, support.
Conclusions: Children aged 10 to 17 undergoing treatment for ALL experience various fears. Each experience is individual and changes over time, but there are common patterns. Most children used problem-solving or emotional-regulation strategies, but withdrawal was also reported. Even children who can deal with fear need support from their health care professionals, families, and friends.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2024. Vol. 19, no 1, article id 2310147
Keywords [en]
Children, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, coping, fear, support
National Category
Pediatrics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-111470DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2024.2310147ISI: 001157654400001PubMedID: 38324664Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85184465285OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-111470DiVA, id: diva2:1836120
Funder
Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, PR2009-00162024-02-082024-02-082024-02-20Bibliographically approved