Introduction:
In France, approximately 2,260 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed annually. Hospital-at-home (HAH) care, increasingly integrated into treatment, offers children and their families a sense of normalcy and comfort. However, it also intrudes upon the family’s intimacy and balance, which are already strained by the cancer diagnosis. In this context, HaH can significantly impact the parents' ability to fulfill their caregiving roles.
Methods:
This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with children diagnosed with cancer (n=7) and their parents (n=27). We paid particular attention to data saturation. The data was analysed using the six-step reflexive thematic analysis method (Braun & Clarke, 2019).
Results:
Two themes for children (‘Life is not the same anymore’ and ‘Coping strategies’) and two for parents (‘Reinventing Parenthood’ and ‘Parental Strategies’) were identified. These themes focus on how children express their needs and how their parents respond. Children value being at home due to the familiarity and comfort it offers. However, parents feel left to cope on their own and must reinvent their approach to parenting. Parents often experience a tension between the relief brought by professional support and the discomfort associated with a shared parenting role.
Conclusion:
Hospital-at-Home (HaH), though beneficial in many respects, introduces new challenges to the parenting experience. It alters the parent–child dynamic and redefines parental roles, which are already destabilised by the cancer diagnosis. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand and support families navigating this complex form of care. These results also highlight the need for healthcare professionals to offer greater support to parents during home hospitalisation.