Experiences of parents of children receiving immunotherapy for neuroblastoma in China: a qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed to capture and explore the experience of parents of children receiving immunotherapy for neuroblastoma in China. Design and method A phenomenological qualitative study design was used, and a purposive sampling technique to recruit parents of children with neuroblastoma from August to September 2023 at Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center Boao worldlight hospital.Semi-structured interviews were conducted to document the experience of participants.Colaizzi's seven-step data analysis method was used to analyse the data to reveal the themes of the phenomenon. Results Fourteen parents participated in the study.A total of six themes were extracted on parents' experience of caring for a child with neuroblastoma during the immunotherapy:worry and fear; feeling support;expection and hope;just wishing the child to live and healthy;expection for new drugs and financial stress. Conclusion These findings make an important contribution to healthcare professionals’ understanding the experience of parents of children with neuroblastoma receiving immunotherapy.Worry and fear and Financial stress issues are likely to be heavier in this population. Oncology specialist nurses should to pay attention to the experience of parents, promote health education according to the needs of parents, improve social support, and then improve the quality of care for children with NB in China.