Risk and Resilient Functioning of Families of Children with Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Renee Gilbert; Carolyn R Bates; Devanshi Khetawat; Meredith L Dreyer Gillette; Rachel Moore

doi:10.3390/ijerph20065208

Risk and Resilient Functioning of Families of Children with Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 16;20(6):5208. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20065208.

Authors

Renee Gilbert¹, Carolyn R Bates^{2

3}, Devanshi Khetawat¹, Meredith L Dreyer Gillette⁴, Rachel Moore⁴

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Child Psychology Program, Dole Human Development Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 64114, USA.
³ University of Kansas Cancer Center, 4001 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 64114, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.

Abstract

Previous literature highlights the impact of COVID-19 on family functioning. Less is known about the impact of the pandemic on families of pediatric cancer patients. In order to determine universal and unique risk and resilience factors of these families during the pandemic, a qualitative analysis was conducted on families currently receiving cancer treatment at a Midwestern hospital. Results of the data analysis depict ways in which these families have been impacted by and have adapted to COVID-19. These findings suggest that families of pediatric cancer patients have unique experiences in the context of COVID-19, in addition to universal experiences outlined in previous literature.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; family; pediatrics; psycho-oncology; resilience; risk.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Child
Humans
Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Pandemics

Grants and funding

This study is supported by funding from the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center Auxiliary Research Fund to Carolyn Bates, PhD.