Abstract B115: A qualitative study on caregiving social support among Hispanic/Latino parents of childhood cancer survivors in a safety-net hospital

Abstract Background: Parents are the primary caregivers throughout their child's cancer journey. As a result, they may experience a shift in their self and social identity both immediately and in the long term after their child is diagnosed with cancer. Insights into Hispanic/Latino parents of childhood cancer survivors' social support is limited, however. This qualitative study aimed to address the existing gap by describing the social support experiences of Hispanic/Latino parents while caregiving. Methods: Caregivers were recruited from a safety-net hospital in Los Angeles County between July to September 2020. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Hispanic/Latino caregivers of childhood cancer survivors (in English and Spanish). The interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed following a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Two coders independently reviewed and coded transcripts and used grounded theory methodology elements (e.g., gerund coding and memo-writing) on Dedoose. Results: Two related themes were identified: the positive influence of social support when available and the challenges associated with lack of social support. All caregivers spoke about the positive influence of social support throughout their caregiving experience (both during and after treatment). Participants' descriptions of the influence of social support included (1) information sharing enhanced knowledge, (2) receiving comfort and encouragement, (3) receiving tangible assistance reducing the caregiving burden, and (4) enhancing caregiving empowerment/self-efficacy. The most common form of social support among these caregivers was tangible assistance, which included financial support for groceries, bills, rent, and essential services such as transportation, work hour flexibility, childcare for other children, and help with household maintenance. Sub-themes regarding the lack of social support included (1) being a single parent and (2) family and friends withdrawing after the child's cancer diagnosis. Single parents described juggling multiple roles, including caring for the patient, maintaining financial support for the entire family, and caring for other children while managing their child's illness. One caregiver expressed that "if there were two of us [during treatment], it would have been easier." Conclusion: When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents are the primary caregivers and the presence or absence of social support may impact their caregiving experience, particularly for Latino/Hispanic caregivers who are medically underserved. The findings of this study indicate that Hispanic/Latino parents strongly value social support as it enables them to have essential resources that support caregiving for their child and themselves. Efforts should ensure that caregivers are routinely screened to identify their supportive needs. In an effort to optimize support services for caregivers, it needs to be tailored as those with a lack of social support may experience excessive caregiver burden. Citation Format: Carol Ochoa, Randall Y. Chan, Lissette Cervantes, Kimberly A. Miller. A qualitative study on caregiving social support among Hispanic/Latino parents of childhood cancer survivors in a safety-net hospital [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B115.