Caring power of mothers who have a child with cancer and its predictors

Abstract

Background: Attention to the family care provider needs and their caring power is essential. Since mothers are considered as the child’s main care provider, this study aimed to determine the caring power and its predictors among mothers of children with cancer.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 196 mothers who had a child with cancer were selected through purposive sampling. The data were collected using two questionnaires, namely demographics questionnaire and the care power of the care providers of cancer patient questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19 and running descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results: The highest average score belonged to dimensions of “effective role play” (44.62 ± 5.28) and “trust” (14 ± 1.67), and the lowest ones respectively belonged to dimensions of “fatigue and resignation” (22.38 ± 6.33), “awareness” (8.46 ± 2.70), and “uncertainty” (12.38 ± 3.50). In addition, variables of educational level (p <0.001), adequacy of family income (p <0.001), and duration of illness (p0.29) were found as predictors of caring power.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the caring power of mothers with a child with cancer is favorable. High trust and effective role-play reduced fatigue and resignation of mothers, and low awareness about the provision of care caused uncertainty affecting negatively the care power. In addition, the adequacy of family income, the high level of mother's education, and the reduction in the duration of the disease had a direct impact on care power.