Abstract
Purpose
Siblings of children with cancer experience the consequences of their brother or sister's disease and treatment firsthand, often causing social and school-related difficulties. This study aimed to gather parents' and siblings' feedback on a proposal for a school-based social and educational support intervention for siblings with the goal of tailoring the program to meet the needs of siblings.
Method
Adopting a criterion sampling strategy, we conducted interviews with 20 parents and 11 siblings, aged 7–19 years, of children with cancer. During the interviews, we introduced a proposal for a school-based intervention as part of a co-creation design. Data were examined by content analysis.
Results
The analysis showed that both parents and siblings recognized: 1) the need to inform the class about the family's situation, 2) the need for the timing and content of the support to align with the family's stage in the cancer journey. 3) Parents' concerns centered on potentially imposing experiences on siblings, losing school as a ‘free space’, and the risk of siblings standing out. 4) Siblings' concerns related to a fear of losing control over the cancer-related information at school and the reactions of peers. The final SUPREME intervention involved clarifying family meetings before two educational, nurse-led school visits addressing challenges relevant to siblings' academic and social lives.
Conclusion
The participants’ responses to the intervention proposal played a key role in shaping the final intervention, encompassing valuable insights into precautions necessary for implementing school-based support for siblings of children with cancer.
Siblings of children with cancer experience the consequences of their brother or sister's disease and treatment firsthand, often causing social and school-related difficulties. This study aimed to gather parents' and siblings' feedback on a proposal for a school-based social and educational support intervention for siblings with the goal of tailoring the program to meet the needs of siblings.
Method
Adopting a criterion sampling strategy, we conducted interviews with 20 parents and 11 siblings, aged 7–19 years, of children with cancer. During the interviews, we introduced a proposal for a school-based intervention as part of a co-creation design. Data were examined by content analysis.
Results
The analysis showed that both parents and siblings recognized: 1) the need to inform the class about the family's situation, 2) the need for the timing and content of the support to align with the family's stage in the cancer journey. 3) Parents' concerns centered on potentially imposing experiences on siblings, losing school as a ‘free space’, and the risk of siblings standing out. 4) Siblings' concerns related to a fear of losing control over the cancer-related information at school and the reactions of peers. The final SUPREME intervention involved clarifying family meetings before two educational, nurse-led school visits addressing challenges relevant to siblings' academic and social lives.
Conclusion
The participants’ responses to the intervention proposal played a key role in shaping the final intervention, encompassing valuable insights into precautions necessary for implementing school-based support for siblings of children with cancer.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Artikelnummer | 102768 |
Tidsskrift | European Journal of Oncology Nursing |
Vol/bind | 74 |
Antal sider | 9 |
ISSN | 1462-3889 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 2025 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:The study was supported by the Danish Childhood Cancer Foundation (2021-7397/ 2022-8140) and is part of the Childhood Oncology Network Targeting Research, Organization & Life Expectancy (CONTROL), which is supported by the Danish Cancer Society (R-257-A14720), and the Danish Childhood Cancer Foundation (2019-5934).
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