Parents' perspective of caring for their children identified with oncological disorders: a qualitative study

Childhood cancer has a profound effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of parents, yet often their own psychological health is overlooked These parents silently suffer from psychological distress while caring for their children and use their own coping strategies. However, these challenges become worse in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) because of a financial constraint, lack of psychosocial support and healthcare resources. Despite this, limited studies have been carried out in LMICs regarding parents' emotional and psychological perspectives.

To investigate the psychological and emotional difficulties faced by parents of children with cancer in a LMIC, with a particular emphasis on problems like limited access to psychosocial support that are common in developing nations.

This study was conducted using a descriptive exploratory design to address the research question. With the help of the purposive sampling technique, a total of 12 participants were recruited from a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Later, the findings were manually analysed using Creswell's criteria for content analysis.

The findings revealed four major themes: (i) Parental reactions and feelings, (ii) Coping strategies and support systems, (iii) Challenges, and (iv) Parental perspective. Parents from LMICs frequently had to deal with additional obstacles, such as financial strain and a lack of psychological support.

The study explored how parents from a LMIC feel when their child is diagnosed with cancer, where there is frequently lack of access to quality health care and emotional support. It is essential to understand their experiences and to provide them with the support they need in this difficult time. Psychological and emotional support for families affected by childhood cancer must be a top priority for policymakers and healthcare practitioners in LMICs.