Understanding familial response to parental advanced cancer using the family management style framework

Abstract

Purpose: A parental advanced cancer diagnosis can have profound and lasting impact on family functioning. We used an adapted version of the Family Management Style Framework (FMSF) to identify and describe patterns of family management in parental advanced cancer.

Design: This is a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study. Forty-two adults participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews about their experiences as a parent with advanced cancer and completed measures of psychosocial functioning. We analyzed interviews using codes derived from the FMSF and used directed content analysis to identify themes reflected in the coded data.

Findings: We identified five distinct patterns of family management in parental advanced cancer: (1) Equipped and Optimistic; (2) Equipped and Pragmatic; (3) Discouraged and Struggling; (4) Apprehensive and Passive; and (5) Discouraged and Conflicted.

Conclusions: The FMSF was a useful framework for differentiating and understanding underlying patterns of family response to parental advanced cancer.

Keywords:

• family
• family management
• qualitative/research methods
• parent
• cancer

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the patients who participated in this study and who gave their time to share their experience. We also thank Paul Mihas, MA for his assistance with interview guide development and qualitative analysis consultation.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; Foundation of Hope; National Cancer Institute.