Supportive care needs and its correlation with resilience and hope in mothers of children with cancer referred to Mardani Azari Center 2023

Abstract

Abstract Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death among children and adolescents. This illness severely impacts families, particularly mothers, who often bear the primary responsibility for the child's care. Identifying the supportive care needs of mothers and the factors associated with these needs is of significant importance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the supportive care needs of mothers of children with cancer and to examine the relationship between these needs and mothers' resilience and hope. Methods: This descriptive - correlational study was conducted in the hematology-oncology ward and clinic of a children's specialty hospital in Tabriz, Iran. The participants included 200 mothers of children under 18 years old with cancer, selected through convenient sampling method during November to February 2023. Data were collected using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Herth Hope Index (HHI), and the Supportive Care Needs Survey for Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C). Data analysis was performed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression model in SPSS version 26. Results: The mean total score for supportive care needs among mothers was 55.33 ± 12.68 (range 0-100), with the highest need in the psychological and emotional domain. The mean resilience score was 17.42 ± 8.04 (range 0-40) and the mean hope score was 31.29 ± 5.71 (range 12-48), indicating that the participating mothers had low resilience and moderate hope. There was an inverse correlation between supportive care needs and both resilience and hope in the mothers (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical need for psychological and emotional support for mothers of children with cancer. Appropriate supportive measures, such as the involvement of clinical psychologists in oncology wards, motivational classes for mothers, and planning for the follow-up of their psychological status, could enhance resilience and hope among mothers and improve their well-being.