CANCER PATIENTS AID ASSOCIATION

1969 – 2007

CANCER – WE MUST WIN IN OUR LIFETIME

Coping Mechanisms of Parents Who’s Children Suffer From Cancer

Meghana Suchak & Shubha Maudgal

Cancer Patients Aid Association,

Anand Niketan,

King George V Memorial Infirmary,

Dr. E. Moses Road,

Mahalaxmi,

Mumbai-400011, INDIA

OUR PHILOSOPHY

TOTAL MANAGEMENT OF

CANCER

OUR APPROACHRaising Awareness

Cancer Screening

Insurance

Patient Care

Rehabilitation

Providing Information

CPAA Activities for Children with Cancer

CPAA Activities for Children with Cancer in Hospitals

Statistics in India

» Each year, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer.

» An estimated 90,000 will eventually die of their disease.

» Worldwide, 70 to 90% childhood cancers are curable.

» In India as many as 80 per cent children do not survive.

CopingA diagnosis of cancer in your child is devastating

and probably the most distressing situation a parent will ever face.

Coping is the efforts that an individual has to make in order to adjust to the stressful

situation. 

A variety of individual differences influence coping

» Characteristics of the individuals

» Existing coping resources

» Unique Situation

» Demands of the time

Issues Faced by Parents The typical Indian scenario» Lack of Awareness» Lack of Information» Fears, Myths, Misapprehensions» Lack of insurance or social security» Limited Access to cancer treatment » Accommodation» Language barrier» Single parent» Sibling issues» Child related issues

Problem solving

This method is a complex process with a variety of influencing factors like the individual’s

» Personality

» Relationship with other family members

» Openness to a new approach

» Effects of other life events

Hypotheses

» Economic status affects coping outcomes for parents of children suffering from cancer

» Parents from lower socio-economic strata will use more maladaptive forms of coping strategies to deal with their stresses

COPE Questionnaire

» We used the brief COPE questionnaire given by Carver (28 items)

» This is a shortened version of the original COPE questionnaire

» Translated into local languages

Scales measured» Self distraction» Active coping » Denial » Substance use » Use of emotional

support » Use of instrumental

support » Behavioral

disengagement

» Venting» Positive reframing » Planning » Humor » Acceptance » Religion» Self blame

Table 1- Mean Scores of Parents (High and Low Income Groups) on various Coping Styles of COPE

Styles High Income Group Low Income Group

Self distraction 2.87 5.73

Active coping 7.67 6.80

Denial 6.07 6.13

Substance use 2.00 2.40

Use of emotional support 7.20 6.26

Use of instrumental support 6.13 5.67

Behavioural disengagement 4.53 4.80

Venting 4.06 4.20

Positive reframing 6.80 7.47

Planning 6.13 6.93

Humour 4.27 6.33

Acceptance 6.13 6.40

Religion 6.80 7.47

Self blame 3.33 4.40

N= 30 df= 28

Results & Discussion» Major differences on Self Distraction, Active

Coping and Humour

» Many unresolved issues lying dormant

» Parents often did not have a safe outlet for their emotions

» Stigma attached to consulting a Psychologist

» CPAA plans to correct this imbalance by setting up dedicated counseling cells