Caring for dependent children impacts practical and emotional problems and need for support, but not perceived distress among cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: More than one in 10 cancer patients care for dependent children. It is unclear whether this status makes a difference in terms of the distress and associated problems they experience, or whether it is linked to differences in the need for or utilization of psychosocial support.

Methods: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional German study in National Comprehensive Cancer Centers using self-report standardized questionnaires administered to inpatients. Patients living with dependent children (n = 161) were matched by age and sex with a subsample of 161 cancer patients not living with dependent children. The resulting sample was tested for between-group differences in Distress Thermometer (DT) scores and the corresponding DT Problem List. Additionally, between-group differences in measures of the need for and utilization of psychosocial support were examined.

Results: More than 50% of all patients suffered from clinically relevant distress. Patients living with dependent children reported significantly more practical (p < 0.001, η² p = 0.04), family (p < 0.001, η² p = 0.03), and emotional problems (p < 0.001, η² p = 0.01). Although reporting a greater need for psychological support, parents with cancer were not found to more frequently utilize any type of psychosocial support.

Conclusions: The specific problems and needs of parents with cancer who care for dependent children are currently not sufficiently addressed in the clinical care pathways. All families should be helped to establish open and honest communication as well as understand the available support systems and what they can provide. Tailored interventions should be implemented for highly distressed families.

Keywords: cancer; child; family; oncology; parents; psycho-oncology; psychological distress; psychosocial support systems; psychotherapy.