Support for bereaved parents following the death of a child from cancer

One in 600 children develops cancer before the age of 15 (Cancer-UK 2004). Thefocus on providing supportive care throughout the course of a child's treatment isrightly prioritised. However, the provision of effective bereavement care must not beneglected. Although there are differences between diagnostic groups, approximately30% of children die of cancer or resulting condition.The aim of this study was to elicit from parents who had lost a child to cancer theirexperiences of support following their child's death. The study focussed on whataspects of support were positive and which aspects of support parents would havewished changed or supplemented.Data sources included narrative accounts written by bereaved parents, interviews,observations and fieldwork in bereavement support groups and conferences. Datarecorded in a personal reflective journal was also included. The data was analysedusing Roper and Shapira's (2000) four stage strategy for analysing ethnographic data.Themes relating to the support needs of parents whose child has died of cancer wereidentified.The findings indicated that parents wanted comprehensive care from professionalsduring the terminal stages of their child's illness and following their child's death.Parents found the 24 hour availability of a professional person who knew the family asa valued source of support. Continued contact with those who had cared for the childprior to his or her death was appreciated. Parents identified that there was a need forinformation about support groups. It was suggested that a voluntary database forbereaved parents whereby parents whose child had died from a similar condition couldcontact each other. Support for bereaved siblings was important.Further research in this area could include an exploration of support needs of siblings,grandparents, parents who have lost their only child and needs of parents who havelost an adult child to cancer