"Share the Fear": Communication Concerns of Parents With Cancer With Dependents and Coparents: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Study.

Abstract

Background: The estimated 1.6 million adults in the United States with cancer who also have dependents face unique challenges given the profound impact of cancer on their families, such as increased psychological distress, decreased quality of life, and altered family functioning. Unfortunately, little is known about the mutual cancer-related communication concerns from the perspectives of the parents with cancer or the coparents. Coparents care for the patient and dependents until they reach adulthood (eg, unmarried, divorced, stepparent, and/or same-sex partnerships).

Objective: To understand the mutual cancer-related communication concerns from the perspectives of parents with cancer and the coparents and intervention delivery preferences.

Methods: Fifteen parents with cancer and 15 coparents were recruited to participate in semistructured interviews between October 2022 and September 2023 within an academic medical center in Midwestern states. Interviews were conducted via Zoom. The data were analyzed through Charmaz's inductive grounded theory approach.

Results: Parents with cancer and the coparents desire communication assistance with each other about discussing the cancer diagnosis with dependents, end-of-life planning, managing finances, and addressing mental health concerns and emotions. The majority of participants reported interest in a virtually delivered intervention.

Conclusions: Findings from this study provide a mutual understanding of cancer-related communication concerns from the perspectives of parents with cancer and the coparents.

Implications for practice: These findings provide awareness for providers and the foundation to inform a web-based communication intervention about cancer-related concerns to promote family resiliency in this population, which provides a resource for providers to utilize.