"I Feel Like My Child's Health Is Hanging by a Thread": A Grounded Theory of Experiences of Parents of Children With Cancer During Emergency Department Visits.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to generate an explanatory framework to obtain a more detailed understanding of the experiences of parents of children with cancer during ED visits.

Methods: A grounded theory approach was used for the present study. Semistructured format interviews were conducted with 12 parents of children with cancer. Data collection and generation were managed simultaneously for analysis. The qualitative data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.

Results: The core category summarizes parents' concerns and fears about their child's health. The core category was identified as "I feel like my child's health is hanging by a thread." Four main categories with related subcategories were developed that revealed the experiences of parents of children with cancer: "Focusing on the specific conditions of childhood cancer," "Expectation of healing care behaviors," "Reflections of the ED visit on the parents and children," and "Implementing family-centered emergency care."

Discussion: The study developed a grounded theory that provides a guideline for the pediatric emergency team on the priority issues in the care of pediatric oncology patients and the importance of the care approach for parents. Parents emphasized that their children's health was vulnerable, and they needed resources created by the supportive care practice to create an optimal healing environment in the pediatric emergency department.