Table 2.
Characteristics of how parents received information about their child's illness1
| Fathers (n = 191) | Mothers (n = 251) | Total (n = 442) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How did you get the information that your child had cancer? | |||
| N/A; I never got such information | 1 (0.5) | 3 (1.2) | 4 (0.99) |
| With physician, child and other parent present | 78 (40.85) | 82 (32.7) | 160 (36.2) |
| With physician and other parent present | 53 (27.8) | 63 (25.1) | 116 (26.2) |
| With physician and child present | 12 (6.3) | 36 (14.3) | 48 (10.9) |
| With physician | 5 (2.6) | 36 (14.3) | 41 (9.3) |
| From other parent | 23 (12.0) | 9 (3.6) | 32 (7.2) |
| From child | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.2) |
| Via telephone | 12 (6.3) | 14 (5.6) | 26 (5.9) |
| Other | 3 (1.6) | 6 (2.4) | 9 (2.0) |
| Missing | 3 (1.6) | 2 (0.8) | 5 (1.1) |
| How did you get the information that your child's illness had recurred the first time? | |||
| N/A; the illness never recurred | 20 (10.5) | 40 (15.9) | 60 (13.6) |
| With physician, child and other parent present | 47 (24.6) | 50 (19.9) | 97 (21.9) |
| With physician and other parent present | 24 (12.6) | 28 (11.1) | 52 (11.8) |
| With physician and child present | 11 (5.8) | 28 (11.2) | 39 (8.8) |
| With physician | 4 (2.1) | 15 (6.0) | 19 (4.3) |
| From other parent | 15 (7.8) | 8 (3.2) | 23 (5.2) |
| From child | 1 (0.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.2) |
| Via telephone | 13 (6.8) | 16 (6.4) | 29 (6.6) |
| Other | 9 (4.7) | 17 (6.8) | 26 (7.5) |
| Missing | 47 (24.6) | 49 (19.5) | 96 (21.7) |
| Was the information that your child's illness had recurred given in what you consider to be an appropriate manner? | |||
| N/A; the illness never recurred | 21 (10.9) | 42 (16.7) | 63 (14.2) |
| No, not at all | 10 (5.2) | 18 (7.2) | 28 (6.3) |
| To a certain extent | 21 (11) | 18 (7.2) | 39 (8.8) |
| Yes, for the most part | 49 (25.6) | 62 (24.7) | 111 (25.1) |
| Yes, entirely | 37 (19.4) | 54 (21.5) | 91 (20.6) |
| Missing | 53 (11.8) | 57 (12.9) | 110 (24.9) |
| How did you get the information that your child's illness was incurable? | |||
| N/A; I never got such information | 27 (14.1) | 35 (13.9) | 62 (13.8) |
| With physician, child and other parent present | 52 (27.2) | 55 (21.9) | 107 (24.2) |
| With physician and other parent present | 75 (39.3) | 97 (38.6) | 172 (38.9) |
| With physician and child present | 7 (3.7) | 15 (6.0) | 22 (4.8) |
| With physician | 8 (4.2) | 28 (11.2) | 36 (8.1) |
| From other parent | 4 (2.1) | 5 (2.0) | 9 (2.0) |
| Via telephone | 6 (3.1) | 6 (2.4) | 12 (2.7) |
| By letter | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.4) | 2 (0.5) |
| Other | 4 (2.1) | 4 (1.6) | 8 (1.8) |
| Missing | 7 (3.7) | 5 (2.0) | 12 (2.7) |
| When did you get the information that your child's illness was incurable? | |||
| N/A; I never got such information | 23 (12.0) | 28 (11.1) | 51 (11.5) |
| Within 24 h before he/she died | 12 (6.3) | 19 (7.6) | 31 (7.0) |
| A few days before he/she died | 6 (3.1) | 13 (5.2) | 19 (4.3) |
| A week before he/she died | 8 (4.2) | 12 (4.8) | 20 (4.5) |
| 2–4 weeks before he/she died | 25 (13.1) | 25 (10.0) | 50 (11.3) |
| 1–3 months before he/she died | 55 (28.8) | 69 (27.5) | 124 (28.1) |
| 4–6 months before he/she died | 33 (17.3) | 41 (16.3) | 74 (16.7) |
| 7–11 months before he/she died | 13 (6.8) | 17 (6.8) | 30 (6.8) |
| 1 year before he/she died | 3 (1.6) | 11 (4.4) | 14 (3.2) |
| 2 years or longer before he/she died | 6 (3.1) | 10 (4.0) | 16 (3.6) |
| Missing | 7 (3.7) | 6 (2.4) | 13 (2.9) |
| Was the information that your child's illness was incurable given in what you consider to be an appropriate manner? | |||
| N/A; I never got such information | 25 (13.1) | 27 (10.8) | 52 (11.8) |
| No, not at all | 21 (11.0) | 31 (12.4) | 52 (11.8) |
| To a certain extent | 28 (14.7) | 32 (12.8) | 60 (13.6) |
| Yes, for the most part | 54 (29.3) | 66 (26.3) | 120 (27.1) |
| Yes, entirely | 53 (27.8) | 87 (34.7) | 140 (31.7) |
| Missing | 10 (5.2) | 8 (3.2) | 18 (4.1) |
1
Seven parents did not state their gender, therefore we can only present data on 442 parents by gender. Figures in parentheses are percentages.