Uncertainty, anxiety, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to describe relationships between uncertainty, anxiety, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) in parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer. The study was guided by the Uncertainty in Illness Theory. The setting was a children's hospital. Participants were 15 parents of 12 children recently diagnosed with cancer. Anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Uncertainty was measured by the Parent Perception of Uncertainty Scale. Symptoms of PTS were measured by the Reaction Index. Total scale scores were calculated and psychometrics estimated. Differences in uncertainty, anxiety, and symptoms of PTS by parent race were assessed using analysis of variance. The correlation matrix was estimated to assess relationships between variables. The level of uncertainty was lower than expected, but was significantly higher for black parents (p < .001). The level of anxiety was comparable to that for hospitalized persons with anxiety disorders. The level of symptoms of PTS was higher than reported for parents of childhood cancer survivors. The relationship between anxiety and symptoms of PTS was significant (r =.56, p < .02). Pediatric oncology nurses should offer parents interventions to relieve high levels of anxiety and symptoms of PTS; some parents could also benefit from interventions that target uncertainty.