Fathers of Children With Cancer: Qualitative Insights and Nursing Implications

To describe the experiences of Turkish fathers whose child is undergoing cancer treatment.

Participants were recruited at the pediatric hematology-oncology clinic of a university hospital in western Türkiye. A purposive sampling strategy was used to identify eligible fathers. Fathers whose child was aged 0-18 years and receiving cancer treatment were considered eligible.

This study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative research design. Semistructured individual interviews with 12 fathers of a child with cancer were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method.

The fathers' (N = 12) mean age was 36.83 years, and the children's mean age was 5.25 years. The following four main themes with interrelated subthemes and categories were identified that reveal the feelings, experiences, and expectations of fathers of children with cancer: diagnosis and treatment process experiences, postdiagnosis life changes, coping, and needs.

Pediatric oncology nurses can develop more inclusive care practices that support paternal involvement by considering the influence of gender roles on fathers' emotional expressions and help-seeking behaviors. Future research should examine fathers' experiences across diverse cultural and clinical settings to inform the development of father-focused interventions.