Relationship between problems related to child late effects and parent burnout after pediatric hematopoietic stem...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Hematology
• Psychology

Background:

• Parental stress is a known consequence of a child's serious illness.
• Long-term effects of parental stress following pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and correlates of burnout in parents of children who have undergone HSCT and survived.
• To examine differences in burnout between mothers and fathers and its association with the child's health status.

Main Methods:

• A Swedish national sample of 159 mothers and 123 fathers of children who underwent HSCT completed self-report questionnaires.
• Burnout was assessed using the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire.
• Child health status was evaluated through parental and physician estimations (Lansky/Karnofsky scales and study-specific questions).

Main Results:

• Burnout symptoms were more prevalent in fathers of children transplanted within the last five years (34.4%) compared to fathers of healthy children (19.9%).
• Parental burnout (mothers and fathers) was significantly associated with the number and severity of the child's health impairments up to five years post-HSCT.
• Effect sizes for fathers were stronger (Spearman's rho 0.36-0.61) than for mothers (Spearman's rho 0.26-0.36).

Conclusions:

• Chronic stress and burnout in parents following pediatric HSCT appear to decrease over time.
• Ongoing monitoring and support are crucial for parents during the post-HSCT period.
• The unique challenges faced by fathers in pediatric care settings warrant increased research and clinical attention.