TY - JOUR
T1 - Parental stress before, during, and after pediatric stem cell transplantation
T2 - A review article
AU - Vrijmoet-Wiersma, C. M.J.
AU - Egeler, R. M.
AU - Koopman, H. M.
AU - Norberg, A. Lindahl
AU - Grootenhuis, M. A.
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - Goals of work: Pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a stressful treatment for children with relapsed or high-risk malignancies, immune deficiencies and certain blood diseases. Parents of children undergoing SCT can experience ongoing stress related to the SCT period. The aim of this article was to present a literature review of articles on parental distress and adaptation before, during, and after SCT and to identify risk and protective factors. Materials and methods: The review was conducted systematically by using PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and Picarta databases. Eighteen articles met our inclusion criteria: publishing date between January 1, 1990 and January 1, 2009; studies concerning parents of children undergoing SCT; studies examining the psychological adjustment and/or stress reactions of parents as primary outcomes and studies available in English. Main results: Highest levels of parental stress are reported in the period preceding SCT and during the acute phase. Stress levels decrease steadily after discharge in most parents. However, in a subgroup of parents, stress levels still remain elevated post-SCT. Parents most at risk in the longer term display highest levels of stress during the acute phase of the SCT. Conclusions: Psychosocial assessment before SCT, during the acute phase and in the longer term, is necessary to identify parents in need for support and follow-up care.
AB - Goals of work: Pediatric stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a stressful treatment for children with relapsed or high-risk malignancies, immune deficiencies and certain blood diseases. Parents of children undergoing SCT can experience ongoing stress related to the SCT period. The aim of this article was to present a literature review of articles on parental distress and adaptation before, during, and after SCT and to identify risk and protective factors. Materials and methods: The review was conducted systematically by using PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and Picarta databases. Eighteen articles met our inclusion criteria: publishing date between January 1, 1990 and January 1, 2009; studies concerning parents of children undergoing SCT; studies examining the psychological adjustment and/or stress reactions of parents as primary outcomes and studies available in English. Main results: Highest levels of parental stress are reported in the period preceding SCT and during the acute phase. Stress levels decrease steadily after discharge in most parents. However, in a subgroup of parents, stress levels still remain elevated post-SCT. Parents most at risk in the longer term display highest levels of stress during the acute phase of the SCT. Conclusions: Psychosocial assessment before SCT, during the acute phase and in the longer term, is necessary to identify parents in need for support and follow-up care.
KW - Adaptation
KW - Parental stress
KW - Pediatric SCT
KW - Review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71349083020&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-009-0685-4
DO - 10.1007/s00520-009-0685-4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19572154
AN - SCOPUS:71349083020
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 17
SP - 1435
EP - 1443
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 12
ER -