http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23297378

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print]

Japanese parents' perception of disclosing the diagnosis of cancer to their children.

Watanabe A, Nunes T, Abreu GD.

Source

Department of Psychology, Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Abstract

In Japan, the practice of disclosing the diagnosis of cancer to young people varies between hospitals. Some hospitals respect parent's wishes and do not to tell young people about their diagnoses whereas others encourage parents to adopt their policyof informing patients. Unfortunately, there is no research about parents' adjustment to either course of action. This study examines parents' perspectives regarding this decision. Parents (55) and grand-parents (3) were interviewed about their experience of sharing or not sharing the diagnosis with their children. Analysis of the interviews reveals a complex picture in which parents struggle to balance their emotions, their representation of 'cancer as death', their views of their children's level of understanding as well as the positive and negative effects of disclosure on their children. We suggest that knowledge of parents' perspectives can be useful to health professionals who support parents living with this dilemma.