Supportive care needs of parents of children with cancer: transition from diagnosis to treatment.

PURPOSE/
OBJECTIVES: To analyze research related to the pediatric oncology population supportive care needs from diagnosis to treatment. DATA SOURCES: Articles published from 1992-2002. DATA SYNTHESIS: 49 studies were included. All six categories of the Supportive Care Needs Framework were found, with most studies addressing one to three of the need categories. Informational (88%) and emotional (84%) needs were identified most frequently.
CONCLUSIONS: No one study examined the entire range and types of supportive care needs from diagnosis to treatment. This knowledge is key to planning appropriate care and services. Future research should be directed at understanding the full constellation of needs encountered by parents during this time. Further refinement of the Supportive Care Needs Framework is required to fully define the categories of need. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Although more research is required, supportive care that focuses on informational and emotional support appears to be most important from diagnosis to treatment. Using a conceptual framework such as the Supportive Care Needs Framework provides a methodology for planning care based on needs.