[The experience of fathers with a child hospitalized for brain tumor: Exploratory study of French fathers and caregivers].

Abstract

Introduction: The general aim of the study was to explore the fathers' experiences during the hospitalization of a child with a brain tumor, an area that has been little studied. The opinions of the healthcare providers were also examined in order to crosscheck the views of each partner, particularly with regard to fathers' inclusion.

Methods: Individual interviews with 14 fathers and focus group interviews with 22 healthcare providers were conducted in 3 hospitals in the Île-de-France and Grand Est regions. The corpus of all the interviews was analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis, carried out by 4 coders from the two research teams and supported by N'Vivo software (version 11).

Results: Four themes emerged from the fathers' statements and the focus groups with the healthcare providers: the experience of the father and his sick child in the hospital; the time spent in the hospital; the involvement of the father in the hospital by the healthcare providers; and the needs and recommendations of each partner.

Discussion: Like mothers, fathers report a painful experience of hospitalization and care. Some fathers express their emotions very strongly, which can destabilize the healthcare providers. Healthcare providers point out that the presence of fathers in the hospital is a factor that promotes their inclusion, especially when they can participate in care. The fathers expressed their need to be recognized as parents in their own right and recommended that they be better supported when they leave the hospital, which was confirmed by the healthcare providers.