Identifying support issues of parents of children with leukemia

PURPOSE: One of the important factors in helping both children with acute l ymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their family members during the difficult t reatment period is the support they receive. However, there is a scarcity o f research that examines the adaptation to such an experience from the fami ly's perspective. This discussion presents the findings from recent researc h on accessing support from the perspective of parents with a child undergo ing treatment for ALC. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: A longitudinal, qualitative study informed by a pheno menological methodology. The results are taken from parent interviews under taken during the time period from the end of induction-remission to the end of the ii-week period (time period T1), collected over the first year of o peration of the study. RESULTS: The need for support was reported as intense, and offers of suppor t tend to lessen over time. Among the sources of support noted were partner s, family, friends, employers, hospital staff, and other parents in the sam e situation. However, community resources appeared to be lacking, underused , or both. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Suggestions for support include the provision of pra ctical assistance through appropriately trained volunteers, the involvement of a liaison person to mentor families through the initial stages of treat ment, development of parent support groups, and the opportunity for familie s to meet children who are successfully off treatment. Such support strateg ies involve sensitivity to particularly vulnerable families who have limite d support available and respectfulness of the variation in individual style s of accessing support.