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Understanding the health impact of caregiving: a qualitative study of immigrant parents and single parents of children with cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

Research looking at the health of parents of children with cancer typically uses outcome measures focused on symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Our team builds on this literature to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the health impact of caregiving.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 79 Canadian parents of children with cancer at least 6 months post-diagnosis. Line-by-line coding was used to establish categories and themes. Constant comparison was used to examine relationships within and across codes and categories. Interviewing continued until no new themes emerged.

Results

Parents described health concerns as including sleep disturbance, daytime fatigue, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and changes in social roles. Parents described the positive impacts of caregiving as including gaining a greater appreciation for child and family and developing compassion, empathy, patience, inner strength, and new perspectives on life.

Conclusion

Parents of children with cancer can experience a range of health problems due to the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and the intensive and often prolonged nature of treatment and aftercare. Given the central role parents play as caregivers, it is crucial to understand the health impact of caregiving so that supportive interventions can be implemented as necessary.

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Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with support from C17 and funded by Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society (grant #18043 and grant #020398). Anne Klassen is a recipient of a CIHR career award.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, HSC 3N27, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4J9, Canada

    Anne F. Klassen

  2. Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 3A, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada

    Sonia Gulati, Leeat Granek & Zahava R. S. Rosenberg-Yunger

  3. School of Social Work, McMaster University, KTH-319, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada

    Lisa Watt

  4. Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Lillian Sung

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, KIH 8L1, Canada

    Robert Klaassen

  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, A119D, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 4C9, Canada

    David Dix

  7. Departments of Psychology and Sociology, Algoma University, 1520 Queen Street, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2G4, Canada

    Nicola T. Shaw

Authors
  1. Anne F. Klassen
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  2. Sonia Gulati
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  3. Leeat Granek
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  4. Zahava R. S. Rosenberg-Yunger
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  5. Lisa Watt
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  6. Lillian Sung
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  7. Robert Klaassen
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  8. David Dix
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  9. Nicola T. Shaw
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne F. Klassen.

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Klassen, A.F., Gulati, S., Granek, L. et al. Understanding the health impact of caregiving: a qualitative study of immigrant parents and single parents of children with cancer. Qual Life Res 21, 1595–1605 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0072-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0072-8

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