Parental Involvement in Pediatric Cancer Treatment Decisions
Author Information
Author(s): McKenna K PHDCollier J RGN, BSC(HONS), MSC, PHD, CPSYCHOL, Hewitt M BSC, BM, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH, Blake H BA(HONS), PHD, CPSYCHOL, MASC
Primary Institution: Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
Hypothesis
If parents do not have the level of involvement they prefer in deciding on the enrolment of their child in a treatment protocol, they will have lower satisfaction in the short and long term.
Conclusion
Parents' satisfaction with their involvement in treatment decisions is influenced by the amount of information and support they receive from healthcare professionals.
Supporting Evidence
- Parents reported that doctors contributed almost twice as much to the decision-making process as they did.
- Satisfaction was positively correlated with the amount of information provided during informed consent.
- Parents consenting to non-randomised trials felt greater pressure during decision-making.
Takeaway
Parents want to be more involved in decisions about their child's cancer treatment, and getting the right information helps them feel better about those decisions.
Methodology
Parents were interviewed and completed questionnaires to assess their satisfaction and involvement in treatment decisions.
Potential Biases
Parents' perceptions of their involvement may not accurately reflect actual participation in decision-making.
Limitations
The study does not specify how parental satisfaction changes over time and relies on self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
Parents aged 20-50, with children diagnosed with various types of cancer, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Wilms' tumour.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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