ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2021
'Don't forget the children': a qualitative study when a parent is at end of life from cancer.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 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, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Communicating with children about a parent's cancer: A document analysis of national cancer organization websites across 13 countries.Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing · 2026Article
- Evaluating an intervention for healthcare professionals to facilitate family-centred conversations when an adult patient has a serious illness.BMC medical education · 2026Article
- Evaluating the quality, reliability and readability of digital and artificial intelligence resources for adults with cancer who have significant caregiving responsibilities for children.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Nurses' Perspectives on Unmet Social, Psychological, and Spiritual Needs of Palliative Patients in Croatia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2026Article
- Benefits and challenges of recording biographical audiobooks by incurably ill parents to their children: A semi-structured interview study.Palliative care and social practice · 2025Article
- An e-Learning Intervention for Professionals to Promote Family-Centered Cancer Care When a Significant Caregiver for Children Is at End of Life: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Adapting and testing an eLearning resource for professionals to support families when a significant caregiver for children is dying with cancer.BMC palliative care · 2024Article
- The usage of family audiobooks as a legacy for grieving children - an exploratory quantitative analysis among terminally ill parents and close persons.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024Article
- 'I didn't know what was in front of me'-Bereaved parents' experience of adapting to life when a co-parent of dependent children has died with cancer.Psycho-oncology · 2022Article
- 'It's not just all about the fancy words and the adults': Recommendations for practice from a qualitative interview study with children and young people with a parent with a life-limiting illness.Palliative medicine · 2022Article
- Conversations About Children When an Important Adult Is at End of Life: An Audit.The American journal of hospice & palliative care · 2022Article
- Article
- Experiences of preparing children for a death of an important adult during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study.BMJ open · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposePreparation for end of life is one of the greatest challenges faced by parents with cancer who have dependent children (< 18 years old), with requirement for support from professionals. The aim of this study is to explore how parents can be best supported in relation to their children, when a parent is at end of life from cancer.
methodsThis is an interpretive qualitative study, using 79 semi-structured interviews with parents at end of life (n3), bereaved parents (n21), health and social care professionals (HSCPs) (n32) and funeral directors (n23). Data were analysed thematically and triangulated.
resultsParents are central to preparing their children for the death of a parent. Striving for everyday ordinariness, maximising social networks, maintaining hope and making preparations for the future are helpful for families when a parent is at end of life. Most HSCPs were unaware of the challenges faced by parents at end of life, and psychosocial support was often left outside the caring realm. As a result, funeral directors noted complexities faced by the families after the death. Results are discussed under four themes: (1) communication with the children as a process, (2) coping throughout the unfolding end of life experience, (3) tension and complexities at end of life and (4) preparing for the future.
conclusionsParents should be reassured that by involving the children early in the end of life experience when the ill-parent is 'well enough' to parent enables them to be actively involved in supporting their child through one of the greatest life changing event. A number of recommendations are discussed for professionals.
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