How Do Parents With Advanced Cancer Communicate With Their Children? A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

ObjectiveMany cancer patients are raising young children while suffering from the seriousness of the illness, and it is challenging for parents to talk to their children about their parents' advanced cancer. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the existing evidence on parents' and children's experiences of communicating about parental advanced cancer.MethodsSeven databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase (OVID), PROQUEST health and medical, CINAL Complete (EMBSO), Medline (OVID), Cochrane Library were systematically searched. A total of 3480 articles were retrieved. Finally, 21 articles were appraised and synthesized.ResultsThree synthesized findings were identified, including open communication with children, concerns about communication, and factors influencing ongoing communication. Most parents appreciated open communication, but struggled with the words, timing and amount of information, and were concerned about causing additional worry to their children. Talking openly about a parent's advanced cancer provided an opportunity for both parents and their children to support each other emotionally, although some parents reported distress in their children.ConclusionsThis systematic review showed the current evidence on parent-child communication when a parent was diagnosed with advanced cancer. Future studies should be conducted to explore how parent-child communication about a parent's advanced cancer affects children's physical and psychological health, and explore children's experiences more directly. Interventions should be developed to help parents with advanced cancer and their children of different ages.