Difficulties and Advantages Experienced by Mothers of Pediatric Oncology Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: This study addressed the difficulties and advantages experienced by the mothers of pediatric oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of 300 mothers of children treated in the pediatric oncology and hematology clinic of a university hospital in Turkiye. The study was approved by an ethics committee. Permission was obtained from the hospital. Informed consent was obtained from participants. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. Results: Most participants regarded COVID-19 as a risk factor for their children with cancer (96.7%). More than a quarter of the participants worried that their children with cancer would not survive COVID-19 (38.7%). More than half of the participants experienced extra stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (68%). Only one in ten participants stated that they needed psychological support during the COVID-19 pandemic (12.3%). The diagnosis, gender (child), and economic status did not significantly affect the participants' extra stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (p>0.05). Most participants noted that the COVID-19 pandemic helped them isolate their children with cancer (84.3%), wear masks (94%), understand the importance of masks during cancer treatment (90.7%), and relieve disease management (83.0%) Conclusion: Although the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the current situation for mothers of pediatric oncology patients, it contributed to the isolation process and disease management.