Assessing Early Supportive Care Needs among Son or Daughter Haploidentical Transplantation Donors

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Hematology
• Transplantation

Background:

• Children increasingly serve as stem cell donors for parents undergoing blood and marrow stem cell transplant.
• The influence of family functioning on donor decision-making and the specific support needs of haploidentical donor children remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore children's perspectives on the stem cell donation experience for their parents.
• To identify unmet needs and the impact of family functioning on the donation decision and experience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design utilizing 15 semistructured telephone interviews.
• Participants were adult children who donated stem cells for a parent.
• Interviews covered the donation trajectory from screening to post-transplant follow-up.

Main Results:

• Major themes included perception of choice, the act of giving back, donation burdens, anticipated parental health benefits, and impact on the parent-child relationship.
• Most participants reported high family functioning, though some strain was noted.
• Family functioning seldom influenced the decision to donate; a sense of obligation was prevalent.
• Donors expressed high satisfaction with their decision and the ability to help their parent.

Conclusions:

• Children donating stem cells for parents often act out of obligation, with family functioning playing a minor role in the decision.
• Despite burdens, donors are generally satisfied, highlighting the importance of the 'act of giving back'.
• Healthcare teams should enhance donor education on screening delays and recipient complications, and provide crucial emotional support post-donation.