Coping Strategies Used by Both Parents of Children Currently Undergoing Cancer Treatment at the Philippine General Hospital

Abstract

Today, cancer continues to be one of the major chronic illnesses among children. When a family is confronted with the diagnosis of childhood cancer, various emotional reactions arise. The word "cancer" is associated with death, and for most people cancer cannot be associated with children, especially for the parents. It is said that for parents, having a child with cancer is both a psychological and existential challenge that is very difficult to cope with. Hence, this study focused on the assessment of the coping strategies of both parents, i.e. the mother and father, of children currently undergoing cancer treatment at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The purpose of the study was to determine the different coping strategies and resources that parents of children with cancer use in order to adapt or adjust to their situation in a healthy and well-balanced manner. It also aimed to determine the factors associated with the type of coping strategies that they adapted, as well as to describe the common problems and difficulties experienced by these parents with regard to their situation. A total of 83 parents, including 42 mothers and 41 fathers, participated in the study. The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methods in conducting the research. Using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the depression and anxiety experienced by the respondents was determined, and using the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, a survey questionnaire created by the researcher, the different types of coping strategies adapted by the parents were identified. Likewise, the researcher conducted Key-Informant Interviews with six of the 83 respondents to further investigate the coping behavior as well as the quality of life of the parents after the diagnosis of their child's cancer. Finally, both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed by the researcher to analyze the data gathered. The results revealed that parents significantly used "Seeking Spiritual Support" among the other coping strategies, with "Substance Use" as the least adapted coping strategy. The remaining coping strategies were "Being Optimistic about the Situation/ "Communicating with Medical Staff and Other Parents/1 "Wishful Thinking," "Acquiring Social Support/ "Positive Reframing/' "Using Passive Appraisal/ "Self-blame," and "Self-Isolation." Factors identified to have influence over the type of coping strategies adapted by parents included sex, age, marital status, educational attainment, and monthly family income. Furthermore, results of the K10 showed that majority of the parents were "likely to be well,” although a significant percentage was observed as "likely to have moderate to severe disorder. Finally, it was also reported that those parents who adapted the positive coping strategies were observed to have lower scores on K10, indicating that they experience less psychological distress. Thus, the hypothesis of the study stating that familiarity, as well as adequate and proper use, of the appropriate coping strategies would help the parents cope or adapt with their child's cancer in a healthy and well-balanced manner was accepted.