Supporting Mothers of Children Suffering from Leukemia to Cope with the Disease

Abstract

Leukemia is a major health problem in pediatrics and is considered a crisis for the family. Aim: It was to support mothers of children suffering from leukemia to cope with the disease. Subject & methods: Design: Quasi experimental study. Setting: This study was conducted in oncology department of Pediatric Children's Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University. Subject: A purposive sample of 64 mothers accompanied their children with newly diagnosed leukemia who attained the previously mentioned setting. Tools 1) Interviewing questionnaire sheet which included three parts a) characteristics of children. b) Characteristics of mothers c) mothers' Knowledge about caring of their children suffering from leukemia.2) five observational checklists: to assess mothers' practices regarding care of their children. 3) Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP): to measure mothers' coping pattern toward the disease. 4) Mothers guidance booklet. Results: The main results showed that the mean age of children was 6.6 ± 2.7 years old while the mean age of mothers was 31.9 ± 7.5. Mothers' level of knowledge and practices regarding care of children suffering from leukemia improved after implementation of the supportive plan with highly statistically significant difference (x2= 26.3 & 22.8 / p <0.001) respectively. Mothers cope positively with the disease after implementation of the supportive plan with statistically significant difference (x2=12.7 & p<0.05). Moreover, there are relation between mothers' knowledge and practices and their coping patterns. Conclusion: it can be concluded that implementation of the supportive plan had a positive effect on the improvement of the mothers' knowledge and practices regarding care of their children suffering from leukemia. Moreover, implementation of the supportive plan helped the mothers to cope positively with the disease of their children. Recommendations: This study recommended that, mothers' classes should be encouraged in cancer hospital and oncology center to provide them all necessary knowledge about the disease and learn them the necessary practices needed to care of their children at home.