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Oncology nurses' perceptions of their supportive care for parents with advanced cancer: challenges and educational needs
Author(s) -
Turner Jane,
Clavarino Alexandra,
Yates Patsy,
Hargraves Maryanne,
Connors Veronica,
Hausmann Sue
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.1106
Subject(s) - focus group , nursing , metropolitan area , oncology nursing , medicine , intervention (counseling) , perception , professional development , family medicine , oncology , psychology , medical education , nurse education , pathology , marketing , neuroscience , business
Abstract Despite the emotional impact for children with a parent with advanced cancer, most families receive limited information and support to assist them. A project is underway to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of a supportive and educational intervention for parents with advanced cancer to be delivered by specially trained oncology nurses. To assess the perceptions of oncology nurses about this role, explore potential challenges, and understand their educational needs, oncology nurses were recruited from three metropolitan hospitals to participate in focus groups. This data was supplemented with data from individual interviews conducted with rurally based nurses unable to participate in focus groups held in a metropolitan location. Four focus groups were held, with 24 participants. Individual telephone interviews were conducted with five nurses. Nurses identified the emotional burden of the supportive care role as a key challenge, along with health care systems which were not attuned to the needs of families. Attention to self‐care and professional confidence, and access to role‐models emerged as key elements required in education, along with information about the impact of parental cancer on children and their developmental stages, and ways to promote more open parental communicate with children. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.