癌症患童父母身心反應之長期追蹤研究

This longitudinal study was to examine gender differences in parental psychological distress with their child at the time of diagnosed as cancer (baseline assessment) and at 6-month follow up. The data from the 30 parent-couples who served as subjects for this study were selected from a larger data set of surveys from parents whose children were receiving treatment of follow-up care for cancer. This study findings shown that both father and mother perceived more psychological distress (for example, anxiety, depression and total distress) at the time of cancer diagnosed than 6-month follow-up. Gender-based difference of psychological distress were also found. For example, mothers perceived more anxiety than father after cancer diagnosed, while mothers perceived more depression and total distress than father at 6-month follow-up. Findings suggest that, in order to improve quality of care, health care professionals need to provide a thorough psychiatric consultation at the time of diagnosis for children who have cancer and their parents.