Coping strategies used by parents of children with cancer in Shiraz, Southern Iran

The assessment of family coping patterns and resources will provide a further basis for helping family's adaptation. This study was undertaken to assess the coping strategies used by parents of children with cancer in Aliasghar Cancer Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data collection was conducted based upon Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale [F-COPES] including social and spiritual support, reframing, seeking help and passive appraisal. A total of 72 parents including 28 couples, 8 single mothers and 8 single fathers participated in this study. The spiritual support ranked the highest and the social help, the lowest strategies used by the parents. Seeking help, reframing and passive appraisal were the remaining strategies. Statistically significant differences were found between the age of participants and reframing and seeking help strategies. A significant difference was also observed between the level of parent's education and reframing strategy but not between gender and coping strategies. Familiarity with coping strategies and the method to use them could balance the emotional, psychological and social consequences of parents who have a child with cancer