Mothers' emotional and caregiving experiences during the first month after a child's acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis: A qualitative study.

Objective: This study explored mothers' emotional experiences and early caregiving experiences during the first month following their children's diagnoses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: This study adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Seventeen mothers of children newly diagnosed with ALL participated in interviews at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Western China within one month of diagnosis. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) illness uncertainty and related responses; (2) caregiving demands reshaped mothers' everyday lives; (3) support received and unmet caregiving needs. Mothers described uncertainty related to the diagnosis and uncertainty experienced during hospitalization. Caregiving affected their work and daily lives, and they relied on health care professionals and other parents for support. They also needed more specific caregiving guidance and continued support after discharge. Conclusions: Early support for mothers of children newly diagnosed with ALL should provide clear, timely, and individualized information, attention to emotional needs, strengthened caregiving guidance during hospitalization, and accessible and continued support after discharge.