Nursing practice to fulfill the information needs of parents of hospitalized children with cancer and related factors

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the current status of nursing practice to fulfill the information needs of parents of hospitalized children with cancer and to determine the associated factors. Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire was administered to nurses working on wards admitting children with cancer in Japan. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis, after exploratory factor analysis. Results: Three factors were extracted as nursing practice: "provision of information that supports the child's future and other family members' daily lives" (factor 1), "provision of information regarding care for the child in the treatment process" (factor 2), "provision of information regarding the child's disease and treatment" (factor 3). Among these three factors, factor 1 achieved the lowest score for the level of practice. Logistic regression analysis indicated that interprofessional information sharing increased the scores of factors 1 and 3 (Odds ratio: 6.150, and 4.932, respectively); assessment of parental information needs increased the scores of factors 1, 2, and 3 (Odds ratio: 3.993, 3.654, and 3.671, respectively); and participation in training increased the score of factor 2 (Odds ratio: 3.078). Conclusions: Nursing practice to fulfill the parents' information needs consisted of three factors. The degree of practice varied according to the information content and was primarily influenced by assessment of parental information needs, interprofessional information sharing, and participation in training. Practice implications: It is necessary for nurses to accurately assess parents' needs, and interprofessional sharing of information is important to fulfill the information needs of parents.