Striving to reduce suffering: A Phenomenological Study of nurses experience in caring for children with cancer in Ghana.
Ruth Nimota Nukpezah, Fatemeh Fomani Khoshnavay, Marzieh Hasanpour and 1 others
PMID 33318855WHAT IT FOUND
Nurses caring for children with cancer described their role as striving to reduce suffering through three main actions: knowing each child's unique needs, rendering a hopeful fight via education and support, and ensuring continuity of care to prevent treatment abandonment.
Key findings
01The central theme identified was 'striving to reduce suffering', supported by three subthemes: knowing children's needs, rendering a hopeful fight, and ensuring continuity and coordination of care.
02Nurses reported that knowing children's needs involved comprehensive health histories, physical assessments, and therapeutic relationships built through play and observation.
03Ensuring continuity of care included acting as liaisons between families and the oncology team, and providing counselling and financial guidance to encourage completion of chemotherapy cycles.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is limited to 14 nurses in a single hospital in Northern Ghana, so findings cannot be generalised to other settings or populations. As a qualitative phenomenological study, it explores meanings and experiences rather than measuring clinical outcomes or treatment effectiveness. The sample size and specific context mean the findings reflect the experiences of this particular group of nurses.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific nursing practices improve patient survival or clinical outcomes. This is a qualitative study of nurses' perceptions and experiences, not a trial of interventions.