Acceptance-rejection levels of the Turkish mothers toward their children with cancer

Objectives: The study was performed to explore acceptance-rejection status of mothers toward their children with cancer and to determine the factors affecting this behavior. Methods: The study was conducted in the children's oncology department and outpatient clinic of a university hospital in eastern Turkey. Study population consisted of mothers having inpatient children with cancer in oncology clinic and mothers of children admitted to the outpatient clinics for various reasons during data-collection period. The study was carried out with 225 mothers. A survey form prepared by the researchers and Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire was used to collect data. The study was conducted on a voluntary basis and attention was paid to the privacy. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18 package program. Results: It was found that mothers present accepting attitudes toward their children with cancer. Also the number and gender of children were found effective in acceptance-rejection behaviors of the parents. Conclusions: Effective nursing care must focus on the reactions given to the disease and coping strategies of mothers experiencing a sense of loss after the diagnosis of cancer, and must accommodate more responsibility for child care and adequate support for adaptation to the disease.