Experiences of children with cancer in the psychological support group: phenomenological study

Author(s)

Luciana Pagano Castilho Françoso

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2002-02-22

Examining board members

Elizabeth Ranier Martins do Valle; Vera Engler Cury; Maria Helena Pereira Franco; Regina Aparecida Garcia de Lima; Manoel Antonio dos Santos

• Advisor: Elizabeth Ranier Martins do Valle

Abstract

This paper proposes to come into contact with childhood cancer and its consequences from the cancer-stricken child’s own viewpoint, and investigate what it means for the child to be ill, seeking to find out the meaning of its experience at this particular juncture of its life. This paper is based on the qualitative research method of phenomenological inspiration in Psychology. With a leading question as the starting point – What is it like for a child who has cancer to live with this illness and its treatment? – the source used for investigation were the experiences of children suffering from cancer in a psychological support group, a routine activity that is a part of the Psychology Service of the GACC – Support Group for Children with Cancer. This group met weekly for one hour, at a fixed time and place, at the Children’s Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (USP). Graphic and playtime materials were used. The participating children, five per session on the average, had different cancer diagnoses, and were at different stages of their treatment. Their ages ranged from 3 to16 years. Construction of results comprised two stages. In the first stage, 30 psychological support group sessions held during the period from April through December 1999 were analyzed. In this stage, the group’s objective was fostering and facilitating the free expression of concerns, doubts and feelings by the participating children, in addition to providing a time for them to share their experiences. In the second stage, 15 psychological support group sessions held during the period from January to June 2000 were analyzed. In this stage, the group’s objective was creating the Children’s Book – collectively prepared informative material on childhood cancer. Subsequently, a synthesis comprising both stages of such construction of results was carried out under the light of Phenomenological Psychology. Practical developments of the aspects studied, as well as the role of Psychology in such care contexts, were discussed in closing remarks. (AU)