Marie L Chardon1, Kimberly L Klages1, Naomi E Joffe1,2,3, Ahna L H Pai1,2,3. 1. Division of Behavioral Medicine & Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 2. Patient and Family Wellness Center, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for families across the world due to fears about infection risk, increased social isolation, and significant changes in family roles and routines. Families with a child undergoing pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) may be at even greater risk for poor adjustment during COVID-19 given their child's increased risk for infection. The purpose of the current study was to qualitatively examine the impact of COVID-19 on family adjustment during pediatric HCT to inform clinical care. METHODS: Twenty-nine caregivers of children (≤12 years) who underwent an HCT within the past 2 years completed semi-structured qualitative interviews and demographic questionnaires in the first 4 months following initial COVID-19 quarantine. RESULTS: Twenty-two themes emerged from the interviews using grounded theory methodology. Although nearly half of caregivers described COVID-19 as a stressor, 69% of caregivers reported adequate adjustment to COVID-19. Caregivers generally attributed their positive adjustment to HCT preparing the family for COVID-19 and more difficult adjustment to increased physical or social isolation and COVID-19 amplifying germ fears. The child's HCT treatment status also had important implications on family adjustment to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that families undergoing pediatric HCT are uniquely prepared to cope with the impacts of a global pandemic; however, families experiencing certain risk factors (e.g., more recent transplant, impaired access to social support, reduced access to coping tools) may experience poorer adjustment during pandemics such as COVID-19 and may benefit from increased psychosocial support from their healthcare team.
OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for families across the world due to fears about infection risk, increased social isolation, and significant changes in family roles and routines. Families with a child undergoing pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) may be at even greater risk for poor adjustment during COVID-19 given their child's increased risk for infection. The purpose of the current study was to qualitatively examine the impact of COVID-19 on family adjustment during pediatric HCT to inform clinical care. METHODS: Twenty-nine caregivers of children (≤12 years) who underwent an HCT within the past 2 years completed semi-structured qualitative interviews and demographic questionnaires in the first 4 months following initial COVID-19 quarantine. RESULTS: Twenty-two themes emerged from the interviews using grounded theory methodology. Although nearly half of caregivers described COVID-19 as a stressor, 69% of caregivers reported adequate adjustment to COVID-19. Caregivers generally attributed their positive adjustment to HCT preparing the family for COVID-19 and more difficult adjustment to increased physical or social isolation and COVID-19 amplifying germ fears. The child's HCT treatment status also had important implications on family adjustment to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that families undergoing pediatric HCT are uniquely prepared to cope with the impacts of a global pandemic; however, families experiencing certain risk factors (e.g., more recent transplant, impaired access to social support, reduced access to coping tools) may experience poorer adjustment during pandemics such as COVID-19 and may benefit from increased psychosocial support from their healthcare team.
Authors: Ahna L H Pai; Avi Madan Swain; Fang Fang Chen; Wei-Ting Hwang; Gabriela Vega; Olivia Carlson; Francisco Argueta Ortiz; Kimberly Canter; Naomi Joffe; E Anders Kolb; Stella M Davies; Joseph H Chewning; Janet Deatrick; Anne E Kazak Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2019-03-14 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Jill M Plevinsky; Melissa A Young; Julia K Carmody; Lindsay K Durkin; Kaitlyn L Gamwell; Kimberly L Klages; Shweta Ghosh; Kevin A Hommel Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2020-10-01
Authors: Jennifer M Knight; Mallory R Taylor; Kelly E Rentscher; Elisabeth C Henley; Hannah A Uttley; Ashley M Nelson; Lucie M Turcotte; Natalie S McAndrew; Hermioni L Amonoo; Lathika Mohanraj; Debra Lynch Kelly; Erin S Costanzo Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2022-07-05 Impact factor: 8.786