NEEDS AND PROVISION OF INFORMATION BY NURSES IN ADOLESCENT SUFFERING CANCER AND PARENTS: A Qualitative Study
ABSTRACT: Background: Adolescents with cancer experience complex physiological and psychological changes that also cause stress to their parents. Information is main support to parents and cancer patients, can given by nurse as health providers who have longest interaction with patients and family. Aim: To explore the adolescents with cancer and their parents required information and to explore obtained information from nurses from the adolescents and their parents view, and from nurses' view. Method: This was a qualitative study with phenomenology approach. Participants were determined by purposive sampling, which were four adolescents with cancer, four parents, and five nurses that worked in Kartika II room, Estella ward, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta. Data collection was conducted with in-depth interview. Data analysis was conducted with steps from Colaizzi. Results: There were seven themes for adolescents, seven themes for parents, and four themes for nurses. Parents themes were information regarding cancer, its treatment and examination; information that was received from nurses; way to obtained information from nurses; perception on nurses communication; information source; and expectation. Adolescents themes were information regarding cancer and its treatment; information that was received from nurses; way to obtained information from nurses; perception on nurses communication; information source; and expectation. Nurses themes were different authority of doctor and nurse when providing information; role in providing information; distinction in providing information to patients or parents; and supporting and inhibiting factors in providing information. Conclusion: In the early stage of diagnosis, adolescents tended to find out information on their disease by themselves since their parents did not want to communicate openly. Parents with low education background received information differently compared to the ones with high education background. The language barrier between nurses and clients, lack of nurses communication skill, unavailability of special room for education, and insufficient knowledge of some nurses regarding information content were inhibiting factors in providing information for patients and their parents.
