ERIC Number: EJ1343997
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1443-9883
EISSN: EISSN-1448-0980
"There Was Help for Me at the Time, but I Didn't Feel Like I Deserved It": Exploring the Unmet Needs of Adolescents Experiencing Maternal Cancer in Ireland
Rodriguez, Leonor; Dolan, Pat; Kerin, Michael; Groarke, Annmarie
Qualitative Research Journal, v22 n3 p307-324 2022
Purpose: This secondary data analysis explores the unmet needs of adolescents experiencing maternal cancer in Ireland. Research has shown that one of the challenges adolescents deal with at the time of maternal cancer is having unmet needs that can impact negatively on their experience and their ability to cope through this difficult challenge. Design/methodology/approach: Fifteen adolescents completed qualitative interviews as part of a larger study that explored the experience of adolescent adjustment to maternal cancer. The transcripts of these original interviews were analysed using a secondary content analysis underpinned by the categories included in the Offspring Cancer Needs Instrument (Patterson et al., 2013). Findings: The findings of this study suggest a necessity to individually explore the unmet needs of adolescents as these were not uniform even within a small sample of 15 adolescents. Unmet needs change and evolve over time as does maternal illness. Adolescents themselves identified the need for more education in the general public and in clinical practitioners on how to respond appropriately to their needs. It is crucial that adolescent's needs and emotions are validated at the time as part of the support provided for them. Originality/value: This study provides important recommendations for practice and policy on how to provide tailored supports for adolescent who experience cancer in their families as currently there is a lack of effective and evidence-based targeted supports for this specific age group.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Cancer, Adolescents, Mothers, Childhood Needs, Coping, Adjustment (to Environment), Access to Information, Emotional Response, Social Support Groups, Mental Health, Family Environment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A