An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Subjective Experience of Children With Cancer in Hospital-at-Home

BackgroundPaediatric cancer profoundly disrupts children's lives, with wide-ranging consequences. Hospital-at-Home (HaH) has been developed as an alternative to traditional hospitalisation, yet the subjective experiences of the children remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to understand these experiences as they are perceived and described by the children themselves and to provide more meaningful insight into their subjective trajectories.MethodA qualitative study based on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted with seven children aged 7 to 12 receiving HaH.ResultsFour main themes emerged. (1) Homecare - a structured and reassuring routine: the children describe a reassuring environment that fosters continuity of identity and a sense of normality; (2) Perception of parenting - "I became their concern": the children acutely perceive their parents' increased attention, hypervigilance and emotional burden; (3) Discovery of an unprecedented power: physical vulnerability becomes a subtle lever of agency and negotiation in the care relationship; and (4) Parentification of children with cancer: some children protect their parents by concealing their pain or concerns.ConclusionHaH involves complex emotional and relational processes. While reinforcing the child's security and continuity, HaH may also intensify emotional dynamics within the family. These results highlight the need for appropriate psychological support to ensure that the child remains, above all, a child despite their illness.