Hope experiences in parents of children with cancer: A qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract

Purpose

To synthesise qualitative research on the parental hope experiences for children with cancer and identify the levels of parental hope experiences and psychosocial adjustment during cancer events.

Methods

Five electronic databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP) were used to retrieve qualitative studies on the hope experiences of parents of children with cancer from inception to February 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Data were synthesised using a thematic analysis.

Results

Four analytical themes were identified: the process and way hope exists, sources of hope, positive effects of hope, and obstacles to hope maintenance.

Conclusions

Maintaining hope is crucial for parents who are caring for their children with cancer. There are different sources of hope, and targeted interventions can enhance the experience of hope for parents of children with cancer. Families, healthcare providers, and society should pay more attention to the parents of children with cancer and provide them with psychological, social, and financial support to improve their level of hope and quality of care.