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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Isolation and Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells HSCs
Published on: February 25, 2007
Home experiences of parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A qualitative study
Pınar Bekar1, Duygu Altuntaş2, Emine Efe2
1Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Bucak School of Health, Department of Child Development, Bucak/Burdur, Turkey.
Insights
Parents undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for their child face significant home care challenges, including emotional distress and life adjustments. Understanding these experiences is crucial for effective pediatric nursing support and improved family well-being post-transplant.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
- Qualitative Health Research
- Family Caregiving Studies
Background:
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a complex treatment for pediatric cancers and other conditions.
- The transition from hospital to home care presents unique challenges for families of children undergoing HSCT.
- Limited research exists on the specific home experiences of parents managing post-HSCT care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the lived home experiences of parents whose children have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
- To identify the difficulties, emotional responses, and coping mechanisms employed by parents during home care.
- To gather parental suggestions for improving support systems for families post-HSCT.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive qualitative research design was employed.
- Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and researcher observations with 12 parents of children undergoing HSCT.
- Content analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts.
Main Results:
- Five key themes emerged: difficulties in home experiences, changes in family life, parental emotions (fear, anxiety, stress), coping strategies (distraction, spousal/professional support), and parental suggestions.
- Parents reported significant adjustments in health, physical, psychological, and social aspects of family life post-HSCT.
- Coping mechanisms varied, with an emphasis on seeking support and employing distraction techniques.
Conclusions:
- Parents experience substantial challenges and emotional distress during their child's home recovery after HSCT.
- Pediatric nurses require a comprehensive understanding of these parental experiences to provide effective assessment and support.
- Recommendations include regular health screening, psychosocial support, and training to enhance parental self-efficacy in managing post-HSCT care.
Purpose:
This study aimed to describe the home experiences of parents of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Design And Methods:
This study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative research design. The study sample consisted of 12 parents with a child treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at a university hospital in Turkey. Semi-structured individual interviews and researcher observations were used for data collection. The interview transcripts of the study were analyzed using content analysis.
Results:
Five main themes were obtained, each of which had associated sub-themes: difficulties faced in home experiences, changes in family life, feelings about home experiences, parents' ways of coping with difficulties, and parents' suggestions.
Conclusions:
Parents faced various difficulties in their own home experiences, and they felt fear, anxiety and stress during this period. Following the child's HSCT, there were changes in health, physical, psychological and social aspects of family life. Some parents used distraction techniques, and the support of their spouses and health professionals to cope with difficulties.
Practice Implications:
For pediatric nurses to comprehensively assess and support the home care needs of the child and parents, they should understand the difficulties parents face in home experiences, as well as their feelings, changes in their lives, suggestions regarding home experiences, and ways of coping. Regular health screening and psychosocial support can be provided for parents of children after HSCT, and regular training can be given for parents' management of care-related problems and increasing their self-efficacy for this management.
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