ABSTRACT
To date, there is scant psychosocial research on the experience of childhood AML. This article presents findings from the perspective of the child patients, their parents and siblings at one year post-treatment. The findings highlight challenges associated with re-entering life post-treatment with an emphasis on the ongoing sense of uncertainty, the changed sense of normalcy, and the difficulty of returning to the hospital for check-ups. A number of recommendations are made including the desirability of providing hospital space for check-ups away from the treatment area and the need for ongoing reassurance and support.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Holistic Health , Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Parenting/psychology , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Anecdotes as Topic , Australia , Female , Humans , Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute/nursing , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Nursing Methodology Research , Sibling Relations , Social Support , Stress, Psychological/prevention & control , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To review the current evidence regarding the role and benefits of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in leukemia. DATA SOURCES: Review articles, original articles, internet web sites, and books. CONCLUSION: HCT is a potentially curative treatment modality for patients with hematologic malignancies such as leukemia. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses working with patients undergoing HCT need awareness of the type of leukemia, source of the hematopoietic cell product, type of preparative regimen used, and the complications of the procedure will enable nurses to educate and intervene with patients and their family members throughout the transplant trajectory.
