Care of children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment in the COVID-19 pandemic: experience of family members

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2023.71271

Keywords:

Oncology Nursing, COVID-19, Child Health, Adolescent Health, Family

Abstract

Objective: to describe the experience of family members of children and adolescents with cancer undergoing cancer treatment, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, with 20 family members of children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in September and October 2020 and subsequent content analysis. Results: the experiences lived by family members in the care of children and adolescents during the pandemic reveal repercussions and ways of coping arising from concerns and insecurities related to COVID-19, changes in routine and the reorganization of therapeutic programs for the continuity of cancer treatment. Conclusion: both children and adolescents and their families redoubled the precautions they were used to before the pandemic. There was a need for reorganization and rescheduling of consultations, procedures and hospitalizations, but without prejudice to the planned therapy. Insecurity and anxiety were the most present feelings related to the evolution of COVID-19.

Author Biographies

Lara Adrianne Garcia Paiano da Silva, Universidade Federal do Paraná

Enfermeira. Doutora. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. Email: laraagps@gmail.com. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4419-6984. 

 

 

Bárbara Izabella Orth, Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná.

Enfermeira. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Cascavel, Paraná, Brasil. Email: barbara_orth@hotmail.com. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4371-4444.

Nen Nalú Alves das Mercês, Universidade Federal do Paraná

Enfermeira. Doutora. Professora Adjunta. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. Email: nennalu@gmail.com. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5843-8329.

Luciana Puchaslki Kalinke, Universidade Federal do Paraná

Enfermeira. Doutora. Professora Associada. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. Email: lucianakalinke@yahoo.com.br. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4868-8193.

Published

2023-06-14

How to Cite

1.
Silva LAGP da, Orth BI, Mercês NNA das, Kalinke LP. Care of children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment in the COVID-19 pandemic: experience of family members. Rev. enferm. UERJ [Internet]. 2023 Jun. 14 [cited 2025 May 9];31(1):e71271. Available from: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/enfermagemuerj/article/view/71271

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)