ArticleBMJ global health2021
The evolution of parents' beliefs about childhood cancer during diagnostic communication: a qualitative study in Guatemala.
Article in BMJ global health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- Hope in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Measuring Stigma in Pediatric Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Three Global Sites.JCO global oncology · 2025Article
- Parent-provider communication dynamics during the pediatric oncology diagnostic process in Guatemala: A qualitative study.Pediatric blood & cancer · 2024Article
- Mothers' efforts to overcome difficult twists and turns in living with children with cancer: a phenomenological study.BMC women's health · 2024Article
- Global cancer stigma research: a U.S. National Cancer Institute workshop report.Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs · 2024Article
- Explanatory models in real-world clinical interactions at a pediatric cancer center in Guatemala.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Functions of patient- and family-centered pediatric cancer communication in Pakistan.Frontiers in oncology · 2024Article
- Sustainability determinants of an intervention to identify clinical deterioration and improve childhood cancer survival in Latin American hospitals: the INSPIRE study protocol.Implementation science communications · 2023Article
- The COVID-19 Pandemic's impact on sustainability and expansion of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited hospitals.Cancer medicine · 2023Article
- Understanding hope at diagnosis: A study among Guatemalan parents of children with cancer.Cancer medicine · 2023Article
- Development and Adaptation of a Patient-Centered Communication Survey for Parents of Children With Cancer in Guatemala.JCO global oncology · 2022Article
- Article
- Information-sharing experiences of professionals looking after children with cancer: a qualitative exploration from a specialist paediatric oncology unit in India.Ecancermedicalscience · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
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Abstract
introductionFatalistic cancer beliefs may contribute to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes, including treatment abandonment, for children with cancer. This study explored Guatemalan parents' cancer beliefs during initial paediatric cancer communication, and the sociocultural and contextual factors that influence these beliefs.
methodsTwenty families of children with cancer were included in this study. We audio-recorded psychosocial conversations with psychologists and diagnostic conversations with oncologists, then conducted semi-structured interviews with parents to explore the evolution of their cancer beliefs. Audio-recordings were transcribed and translated from Spanish into English, with additional review in both languages by bilingual team members. All 60 transcripts were thematically analysed using a priori and novel codes.
resultsGuatemalan parents' beliefs evolve as they learn about cancer through various sources. Sources of information external to the cancer centre, including prior experiences with cancer, media exposure, community discussion and clinical encounters, contribute to pre-existing beliefs. Many parents' pre-existing cancer beliefs are fatalistic; some are influenced by Mayan spirituality. Sources internal to the cancer centre include psychologists and oncologists, other providers, other patients and families. Psychologists acknowledge pre-existing beliefs and deliver cancer education using verbal explanations and hand-drawings. Oncologists provide diagnostic information and outline treatment plans. Both support hope by providing a path toward cure. Parents' lived experience is a culmination of sources and simultaneously independent. Ultimately most parents arrive at an understanding of cancer that is consistent with an allopathic medical model and offers optimism about outcomes.
conclusionAn interdisciplinary communication process that includes cancer education, is attentive to pre-existing beliefs, and supports hope may encourage acceptance of the allopathic medical model and need for treatment. Providers in settings of all resource levels may be able to use these techniques to support cross-cultural cancer communication, reduce treatment abandonment and improve therapy adherence.
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