Ethical Challenges of Pediatric Cancer Care: Interviews With Nurses in Saudi Arabia

Cancer Control

卷:27

Research Article

Ghiath Alahmad²  Halah Al-Kamli²  Haneen Alzahrani² 

[1] King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University of Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

[2] King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

关键词: informed consent;    pediatric cancer;    decision making;    bioethics;    nurses qualitative;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1073274820917210

 received in 2019-05-02, accepted in 2020-03-13,  发布年份 2020

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Despite rapid and successful development in pediatric cancer treatment, many ethical challenges remain. These challenges have been, and continue to be, the subject of much research, but few qualitative studies have explored the views of nurses, especially in the Middle East. This study, therefore, seeks to fill a knowledge gap in this area and to better understand the concerns of nurses—particularly those in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 male and female nurses working in pediatric units at 2 hospitals in Saudi Arabia to explore their views on the ethical challenges in caring for children with cancer. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, then line-by-line encoded, merged, and categorized into themes. Our results show that pediatric cancer is perceived as being “different” from other diseases, and from cancer in adults. Nurses are an integral part of the medical care team and are aware of the importance of their role, as well as the special relationships that they develop with the children. Consent is mandatory and necessary and can be signed by any parent. Assent is important when children become able to give it. Pediatric cancer is seen as a different disease by nurses for various reasons. Their roles and relationships with children and families pose many challenges. Though parental consent and child assent are essential, nurses’ collaboration is important for shared decision-making. Our study paves the way for broader studies to understand the concerns of nurses and other health-care providers about treating children with pediatric cancer.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
© The Author(s) 2020

【 图 表 】

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