Abstract

CHINCHILLA-SALCEDO, Tania Catalina. What Hope Means to Parents of Children with Cancer?. Aquichan [online]. 2013, vol.13, n.2, pp.216-225. ISSN 1657-5997.

Objective: Describe the concept of hope in parents of children between 0 and 15 years of age who have been diagnosed with cancer. Method: The information for this descriptive exploratory qualitative study was collected in four Colombian cities, through semi-structured interviews with eleven parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Results: Twelve categories were identified that describe not only the parents' experiences and how they help them to cope, but also depict hope as a virtue and a frame of mind. Conclusions: Hope ends up being the cornerstone that changes parents' lives. The experience with their children's cancer transforms the meaning of illness and the significance of their own lives, helping them to rediscover positive strategies and coping mechanisms.

Keywords : Nursing theory; parent-child relations; neoplasms; nursing.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )