Date Approved

2017

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

Psychology

First Advisor

Catherine Peterson

Second Advisor

Natalie Dove

Abstract

Parents of children with cancer receive information about how to care for their child's health during diagnosis, treatment, and post treatment inflation is critical to this care; however, parents are often left with information needs when their child is done with treatment. Many parents lack enough information about neurocognitive late effects (NCLE) and how to handle the psychological functioning of their child post treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze parents' information needs post treatment using qualitative data collected from a survey. Qualitative content analysis was utilized to examine 45 parent responses. Four themes were constructed: (a} the long-term impact of the survivor's cancer treatment; (b) concerns about the mental and physical functioning of the survivor; (c) parent and family functioning; (d} and accessing information and help. Parents had greater need for information related to the theme of long-term impact of the survivor's cancer treatment, specifically relating to the long-term effects of treatment/NCLE/late effects, their concerns about the psychological and emotional functioning of the survivor, and their concerns about the survivor becoming an independent adult. Results showed that parents need more information provided to them by healthcare professionals (HCPs) about NCLE, the psychological and emotional functioning of the survivor, and where to access resources on issues post treatment.

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