Prior cancer‐death events: what impact does this have on radiation therapy students?

Purpose : In 2004, a study was undertaken to determine whether treating cancer patients affected the identity development of radiation therapy students in New Zealand. Initial data analysis revealed many students had experienced significant cancer‐death events, such as family members or friends dying prior to entering the course. Methods : A further thematic analysis was undertaken of the transcript data to determine the effects of having a prior cancer‐death event on students' attitudes and perceptions of death. Results : Sixteen of the 21 students indicated that they had experienced a cancer‐death event before entering the course. Four main themes evolved from the analysis of the student transcripts. The themes were: impact of having a prior cancer‐death event; parent relationships; compassion; and a reported feeling that their lives are meaningful. Students reported the impact of the prior death‐event on their professional choice and other aspects of their lives. Conclusion : Previous research found that young adults tended not to want to talk to their parents about death. In this study students openly discussed with parents issues relating to previous cancer‐death events and dying patients. Both female and male students in this cohort demonstrated high levels of compassion. They expressed increased feelings of empathy with family and friends facing life‐threatening illnesses of others although not necessarily if minor illness was involved. Students also reported that their life was made more meaningful by their past experience with a cancer‐death. Further research will aim to explore whether a prior death‐related event influences a range of tertiary students with respect to their attitude to life, their relationships with other people and their career choices.