Providing Ethical Care for Children with Cancer: Nurses’ Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Diagnosing a child with cancer is one of the most intense and challenging experiences that a family can face. Caring for children with cancer is one of the most challenging areas of the nursing profession, technically and emotionally, and nurses face various ethical issues in this regard. This study aims to explore nurses’ perceptions of providing ethical care for children with cancer. Materials and Methods: This study applied a qualitative design and a purposive sampling method. Participants included 21 nurses with experience in caring for children with cancer. Data were collected using semi‑structured interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Data analysis revealed three categories and seven subcategories. First, barriers to providing ethical care (subcategories: parents making decisions instead of the child, cultural misinterpretations, and reference to fortune‑tellers). Second, facilitators of providing ethical care (subcategories: family hopefulness and parents’ religious background). Third, approaches for providing ethical care (subcategories: the necessity of conducting research in the field of cultural backgrounds and the establishment of ethical‑religious committees). Conclusions: This study presents some significant barriers, facilitators, and approaches to providing ethical care for children with cancer. These results are based on nurses’ experiences and perceptions. All healthcare professionals can use our results to provide high‑quality and ethical care for children with cancer.