Maatskaplike werkers se sienings oor die invloed van 'n kankerdiagnose by 'n kind op gesinsfunksionering

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Childhood cancer is a traumatic and unexpected event that is regarded, by any family, as unwanted. Not onlydoes the diagnosis of cancer in a child have an impact on the affected child, but it also has an impact on theparents and other siblings within the family. This type of diagnosis can be very disruptive and requires that thefamily's functioning be adapted to suit the new needs, challenges and priorities. This sudden change can causean imbalance in the functioning of the family, as they attempt to adjust to the situation. Proper support andservices for the family are necessary to aid them in adjusting and ensure their functioning is as normal aspossible.The goal of this study was to develop an understanding and insight into social workers' views on the impactthat a cancer diagnosis of a child has on the functioning of their immediate family. This goal was achieved byimplementing the following sub-goals: to explain, from a social work perspective, the needs and circumstancesthat a family in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer, faces; to explain the experiences and functioningof a family in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer, from the systems theory; and to investigate andanalyse social workers' views on the impact that a cancer diagnosis of a child has on the functioning of thefamily.This was a qualitative study with certain quantitative elements. The utilisation of an explorative and descriptiveresearch design led to detailed descriptions of the impact of a cancer diagnosis of a child on the functioning ofthe family.The empirical study was done by using 18 participants. Data was collected by using semi-structured personalinterviews. Data was also collected through a focus group, in which four participants partook. The findings ofthe focus group were used to support and supplement the findings of the interviews. Both the semi-structuredinterview schedule as well as the focus group interview schedule was set up by using the results of the literaturestudy.Four themes were identified by analysing the results of the semi-structured interviews. The themes were: thefunctioning of a family during and after the diagnosis of cancer in a child; the impact of the diagnosis of cancerwithin a child on the family; support; and service provision and the role of the social worker. The results of thefocus group led to five themes: childhood cancer; needs; changes in circumstances; culture; and promotingawareness.The results in this study greatly coincide with the findings within the literature study that indicated that thediagnosis of cancer within a child affects all aspects of a family and changes their functioning as a systemdramatically. The influence that culture has on the family's functioning as well as the lack of awareness ofchildhood cancer are two new aspects that were highlighted and did not appear clearly in the literature review.Recommendations are made to social workers in South Africa to use this new insight and understanding to aidin providing better and more meaningful services to families in which a child has been diagnosed with cancer.Proposed topics for further research are also made to encourage investigation into childhood cancer, families,and their needs in order to lead to better comprehension about what type of support is the most important tofamilies and children that are diagnosed with cancer.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University