Restoring Harmony in the Life of Taiwanese Families Caring for Adolescents with Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

Abstract

Adolescence is a particularly challenging period of life, and suffering from cancer compounds the challenges for the adolescent and significantly influences family functioning with respect to roles and responsibilities. Research indicates that treatment outcomes and survival rates from cancer in the adolescent population are generally poor. Most research focuses on symptom management and the identification of effective medical treatments for this group. There is a dearth of research exploring how caring for adolescents with cancer impacts on their families, particularly examining how caregiving influences family roles and responsibilities. At the time of a cancer diagnosis, changes occur in the patterns of family functioning in areas such as roles, relationships, daily routines and interactions. In traditional Chinese society, families accept a moral duty to take care of their sick children, which is grounded in the Confucian ethical system of role relationships. Accommodating for changes in family roles and relationships continues when the unwell adolescent is discharged from the hospital and the family assumes the primary caregiving role at home. Restoring harmony, happiness and peace are significant goals in the promotion of health and prevention of illness. In the Taiwanese context this is a particularly stressful time for most families as they receive little support from community-based services in caring for their children with cancer at home.