Psychological problems of Iranian adolescents who are living with a parent with cancer

3^rd Euro Nursing & Medicare Summit

July 27-29, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Fariba Taleghani

Isfahan university of medical sciences, Iran

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Background: Diagnosis of cancer in parents has an important impact on their children who are living with them in the same house. Adolescents are more influenced due to their more severe emotional problems and their transition from childhood to adolescence period. The impact of parents� cancer on adolescents is different, depending on their family structure and culture in different societies, and needs a deep investigation with respect to the specific context in any society. Materials & Methods: This is a descriptive exploratory study, in which 27 adolescents aged 11-20 years, who were living with a parent suffering from cancer in the same house, were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected by semistructural deep interviews and analyzed by constant comparative analysis. Results: Qualitative data analysis categorized the adolescents� psychological problems in four main categories: 1- negative feeling; 2- confused mind; 3- mood disorders, and 4-fear, anxiety and depression. Discussion: Results showed that psychological problems of Iranian adolescents with a parent with cancer are similar to the adolescents in other countries. The only difference is that there are no specific supportive and educational programs in Iran for such adolescents, especially when their problems during giving care to their parents are ignored. Therefore, it is essential that treatment team put administration of educational supportive programs at the heart of attention.

Biography :

Fariba Taleghani has completed her PhD in nursing at the age of 40 years from Tehran University of medical sciences in Iran. She is Dean of faculty of Nursing & Midwifery at Isfahan University of medical sciences, Isfahan-Iran and member of nursing board in Iran. She has published more than 70 papers in reputed journals.

Email: taleghani@nm.mui.ac.ir