Nurses' experiences and perceived needs in managing chemotherapy-induced mucositis in pediatric oncology: A...

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis remains one of the most distressing complications in pediatric oncology, causing severe pain, malnutrition, and interruptions in treatment. Nurses play a pivotal role not only in clinical management but also in supporting and empowering parents, particularly mothers, as primary caregivers. However, little is known about nurses' lived experiences and their perceived needs in empowering parents to manage mucositis effectively.

This study aimed to explore pediatric oncology nurses' experiences and perceived needs in managing mucositis and engaging mothers in the care process. The findings were used to develop a Mother Empowerment Model for mucositis management, grounded in the principles of family-centered and empowerment-oriented nursing care.

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted with 21 pediatric oncology nurses from two tertiary hospitals in West Java, Indonesia, for pediatric cancer care. Data were collected through four focus group discussions (FGDs) and were analyzed by content analysis. Trustworthiness was established through member checking, peer debriefing, and data triangulation.

Four main themes emerged: (1) increased caregiving burden when caring for children with mucositis, (2) the need for comprehensive mucositis management, (3) strengthening maternal empowerment in mucositis management, and (4) the need for enhanced educational strategies for mothers. The findings revealed that nurses often face emotional and physical burden in caring for children with mucositis, while recognizing mothers as key partners in care. The study developed a Mother Empowerment Model comprising four interrelated domains: knowledge, skills, motivation, and collaboration, implemented through a cyclical process of assessment, education, reinforcement, and evaluation.

These findings contribute to the theoretical basis for developing an empowerment-based nursing model in pediatric oncology. The empowerment-based model highlights the nurse's central role in guiding, training, and motivating parents to become confident caregivers. Integrating culturally sensitive education, emotional support, and digital follow-up strengthens nurse-parent partnerships and enhances family competence in mucositis management. Applying this model may improve adherence, reduce mucositis severity, and promote a better quality of life for both children and families.