Easing mobility in accessing the hospital for families affected by paediatric cancer

Abstract

In high-income countries, healthcare is increasingly centralized. This study explores the mobility strategies, and the constraints related to overcoming distance, parents experience when managing the demands of paediatric cancer treatment. Drawing on interviews with parents in Denmark, the study finds that families must overcome geographical distances to access treatment as well as for a feeling of family cohesion. Using concepts from time geography, the analysis identifies three themes affecting families' ability to overcome distance. These are based on three constraints, namely capability, coupling and authority, and are identified as the economy and numbers of cars in the household, the ability to influence time scheduling, and help from as well as ressources in social networks. The findings emphasize the potential for social and territorial inequalities, as limited resources or long travel distances intensify families’ burdens in their primary project of seeing their child become well.