Parents' perceptions of the information provided to them about their child's leukaemia

Forty-one mothers and 30 fathers were interviewed to examine their perceptions of (a) the type and amount of information provided to them about their child's leukaemia; (b) their sources of information; (c) their level of satisfaction from the information given; and (d) additional information they needed to manage the stressful encounters associated with the disease. Study results showed that health-care professionals represented the main source of information for these parents. The information given was centred primarily on the bio-medical aspects of the child's condition. Parents, however, reported that they needed additional information related to the psychosocial ramifications of the situation. No statistically significant differences were found either between the two sexes or between the two spouses. Education and previous experience with cancer correlated both to perceived amount of information given and to parental satisfaction from it. Subjects' low satisfaction from the information offered to them seems to reflect their disappointment about (a) the limited effectiveness of current medical knowledge and treatment and (b) the bio-clinical focus of the Hellenic health-care system.