Young carers supporting a relative with cancer: What is the healthcare professionals' knowledge in France? An exploratory study.

PURPOSE: Many children and adolescents support relatives with cancer. However, literature about young carers (YCs) shows a lack of awareness among professionals, especially in oncology. This quantitative study aims to explore the level of knowledge and perceptions of healthcare professionals working with cancer patients about the situations and characteristics of YCs. METHODS: 395 professionals participated in an online survey. Professionals reported sociodemographic and professional information and answered several questions evaluating their perceptions about YCs, such as the types of support provided and the consequences of being a YC. Descriptive analysis and group comparisons (Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests) by sex, occupation, and patients treated (adult and/or pediatric) are performed on the data collected. RESULTS: Overall, per the literature on YCs, professionals provide an adequate description of what a YC can be, even though one in two professionals have never heard the term. Several differences are observed: Men mention fewer types of support that YCs can provide, while women report more negative consequences of being a YC; psychologists and social workers report fewer positive impacts for these young people than the other professionals; professionals who work with pediatric patients mention fewer negative consequences than those who work with adults. CONCLUSION: Oncology healthcare professionals have sufficient awareness of YCs; however, several professionals struggle to fully understand the situation of YCs. These findings underline the need for awareness programs in oncology to improve health professionals' understanding of YCs and enhance their identification and support.

Encountering young caregivers: Attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals caring for cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer and its treatments severely limit patients' daily lives. Relatives of patients may provide caregiving assistance to help patients cope with these limitations. Many children and adolescents-referred to as young caregivers (YCs)-provide support for patients. However, healthcare professionals do not always recognize YCs, and when they do, healthcare professionals are unsure how to support them. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' attitudes toward and practices when encountering YCs and to compare these aspects according to their experiences with YCs. METHODS: In total, 395 oncology healthcare professionals (mean age 43.3 years; 84.8% females) participated in the study and completed an online survey. RESULTS: Only 1 in 2 professionals reported ever meeting a YC. The majority identified YCs by YCs' frequent presence in the department. No significant difference in attitudes was observed between professionals who had met a YC and those who had never met one. The support provided by professionals to YCs generally consisted of vigilance and exchanges. However, many professionals expressed a need to know where they can refer YCs for assistance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the importance of improving the practices of healthcare professionals to help them better identify and support the YCs they meet.

Professionals' Awareness of Young Carers in Schools: Results from a French Survey.

Few studies have investigated professionals' awareness of young carers (YCs). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore school professionals' awareness of YCs. The secondary aim was to compare professionals' responses according to their occupation. A total of 2658 professionals took part in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean for the perceived age for care beginning was 10.3 years old, with parents being perceived as the most frequent care recipient. The main caring activities reported were domestic chores, emotional support and sibling care, while care provided directly to the care recipient was perceived as less frequent. Many suggestions for improving the identification, referral and support of YCs were seen as relevant, but professionals were less supportive of suggestions for adjustments within schools. The key training needs centered around better identifying YCs and developing better knowledge of their difficulties. Differences were observed according to occupation, with administrative staff and teachers having less accurate perceptions than school counsellors as well as social and health professionals. This study shows that it can be difficult for school professionals to imagine a child providing care. Specific training, therefore, needs to be proposed according to school professionals' occupations.

Oncology healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding young carers.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing numbers of youths are facing a relative's cancer. In this context, some are required to provide significant support and are called young carers (YCs). However, little is known about how these youth are viewed and supported by health professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of oncology healthcare professionals regarding YCs. METHODS: Thirty-one oncology professionals working in France (adult and pediatric departments and homecare services) participated in semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: The results indicated that almost all professionals had already met a YC and could identify several situations in their professional context. Their knowledge of YCs appeared to influence their attitudes and practices. They perceived this situation in a rather superficial way when their discourse and ideas were explored in-depth. They mentioned some ideas for improving support for YCs, but also many barriers. CONCLUSION: The results highlight a moderate level of awareness. Thus, it is necessary to enhance providers' awareness and knowledge of YCs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Awareness campaigns and training programs need to be developed for oncology healthcare professionals to help them better identify, understand, and support YCs and their families. This type of action would positively impact patient care.

Are there young carers in oncology? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to investigate the support children provide in the case of a relative's cancer. METHODS: Searches were performed on four electronic databases (Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed and ScienceDirect) to identify studies that report on the support provided by children to a relative diagnosed with cancer. Two researchers independently evaluated the eligibility of the studies and cross-checked them for accuracy. The Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) was used to assess the quality of the studies included. RESULTS: Out of the 10948 articles screened, 30 were included in this review. Results highlighted that cancer provokes changes in families, such as shifts in roles and increased responsibilities for the youth. Children often provided significant support to their sick relative and family members, including practical, emotional, and medical support such as household duties, medical assistance, companionship, and distraction. However, they were designated as young carers in only one study. The support provided was associated with negative effects such as stress and fatigue, and with positive effects such as increased empathy and independence. Children wished to support their family but also named several needs, such as time for themselves and the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review highlight the importance of taking into account the support provided by young people facing the cancer of a relative and designating them as young carers. Much remains to be accomplished to officially recognize their role and to support them properly.