1. CANCER PATIENTS AID ASSOCIATION 1969 – 2007 CANCER – WE MUST WIN IN OUR LIFETIME

2. Coping Mechanisms of Parents Who’s Children Suffer From Cancer Meghana Suchak & Shubha Maudgal Cancer Patients Aid Association, Anand Niketan, King George V Memorial Infirmary, Dr. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai-400011, INDIA

3. OUR PHILOSOPHY TOTAL MANAGEMENT OF CANCER

4. OUR APPROACH Raising Awareness Cancer Screening Insurance Patient Care Rehabilitation Providing Information

5. CPAA Activities for Children with Cancer

6. CPAA Activities for Children with Cancer in Hospitals

7. Statistics in India »Each year, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer. »An estimated 90,000 will eventually die of their disease. »Worldwide, 70 to 90% childhood cancers are curable. »In India as many as 80 per cent children do not survive.

8. Coping A diagnosis of cancer in your child is devastating and probably the most distressing situation a parent will ever face. Coping is the efforts that an individual has to make in order to adjust to the stressful situation.

9. A variety of individual differences influence coping »Characteristics of the individuals »Existing coping resources »Unique Situation »Demands of the time

10. Issues Faced by Parents The typical Indian scenario »Lack of Awareness »Lack of Information »Fears, Myths, Misapprehensions »Lack of insurance or social security »Limited Access to cancer treatment »Accommodation »Language barrier »Single parent »Sibling issues »Child related issues

11. Problem solving This method is a complex process with a variety of influencing factors like the individual’s »Personality »Relationship with other family members »Openness to a new approach »Effects of other life events

12. Hypotheses »Economic status affects coping outcomes for parents of children suffering from cancer »Parents from lower socio-economic strata will use more maladaptive forms of coping strategies to deal with their stresses

13. COPE Questionnaire »We used the brief COPE questionnaire given by Carver (28 items) »This is a shortened version of the original COPE questionnaire »Translated into local languages

14. Scales measured »Self distraction »Active coping »Denial »Substance use »Use of emotional support »Use of instrumental support »Behavioral disengagement »Venting »Positive reframing »Planning »Humor »Acceptance »Religion »Self blame

15. Table 1- Mean Scores of Parents (High and Low Income Groups) on various Coping Styles of COPE StylesHigh Income GroupLow Income Group Self distraction2.875.73 Active coping7.676.80 Denial6.076.13 Substance use2.002.40 Use of emotional support7.206.26 Use of instrumental support6.135.67 Behavioural disengagement4.534.80 Venting4.064.20 Positive reframing6.807.47 Planning6.136.93 Humour4.276.33 Acceptance6.136.40 Religion6.807.47 Self blame3.334.40 N= 30 df= 28

16. Results & Discussion »Major differences on Self Distraction, Active Coping and Humour » Many unresolved issues lying dormant »Parents often did not have a safe outlet for their emotions »Stigma attached to consulting a Psychologist »CPAA plans to correct this imbalance by setting up dedicated counseling cells