Coping mechanisms of Filipino parents with leukemia children: a case study

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Leukemia, though proven to be curable, still poses a serious problem for thecountry as the number of patients steadily increases every year. To address this concern, a number of studieswere conducted to analyze not just the physical but also the psychological effects of diagnosis on patients.However, data are still lacking on the effects of this illness on parents of the patients, especially on how parentscope with the imminent distress brought about by the situation. The study aims to explore the copingbehaviors of parents of leukemia patients towards their children's illness and to determine the factors thataffect the distress of these parents.Methodology: The coping mechanisms of Filipino parents of leukemia patients and the factors that contributefurther to their distress were investigated. A case study was conducted involving six parents from the LeukemiaIndigent Fund Endowment in the Lung Center of the Philippines who qualified under the inclusion criteria set inthe study. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Their responses wererecorded, transcribed, and assessed through thematic analysis.Results and Conclusions: The major coping mechanisms gathered were Denial, Acquiring Social Support, andFaith. The nature of their coping mechanisms greatly depends on factors that induced their distress afterdiagnosis of their child. On one hand, for those whose distress was provoked by their knowledge that leukemiais fatal, their immediate coping mechanism was total denial followed by social support from other parents ofleukemia patients. On the other hand, for those whose distress was prompted by the financial constraints thatcome along with the illness, while there is denial, the major coping mechanism was acquiring social support interms of financial needs. Only after having these immediate actions that they become open to emotional andmoral support, together with other coping mechanisms such as having faith, repression of other activities,being optimistic or being passive.