The Role of “Supporters” for Childhood Cancer Survivors : Transitions from the hospital environment to daily life

ショウニガン　ケイケンシャ　ニ　タイシテ　シエンシャ　ノ　ハタス　ヤクワリ　イリョウ　チュウシン　カンキョウ　カラ　ニチジョウ　セイカツ　カンキョウ　ヘノ　イコウ　ニ　チュウモク　シテ

カサイ, ケイタ

Kasai, Keita

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ シャカイガク ニンゲンガク ジンルイガク ケンキュウシツ

Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

退院支援

医療従事者

自立

予期的社会化

childhood cancer

discharge support

healthcare workers

independence

anticipatory socialization

Articles

With recent developments in medical technology, cancer in young people has been attracting the attention of researchers. In particular, treatment outcomes for childhood cancer have improved remarkably, and according to the National Cancer Center, “70 to 80% of childhood cancers can be cured.” Yet even as the survival rate of childhood cancer patients has improved, a different problem has emerged. In the past, childhood cancer patients were hospitalized for treatment and died at the hospital. Today, they live their lives with cancer after being discharged from the hospital. However, due to the uniqueness of the hospital environment, various problems arise when they leave and transition back to regular social environments. This paper examines the infl uence of “supporters” on the post-hospital life of such patients, based on interviews with nurses and social workers at a childhood cancer center hospital. The interviews revealed that the supporters were aware of the gaps between medical care and life in society and tried to mitigate its impacts. In addition, through in-hospital practice, they conveyed to childhood cancer survivors the attitudes and lifestyles needed to adapt to society outside the hospital, such as independent relationships with their parents and self-determination. These supports contributed to the anticipatory socialization of the survivors. Because the supporters maintained the goal of transitioning back to society even while working in the medical environment, they were able to help childhood cancer survivors in post-hospital life.