Susie Kim

Bio: Susie Kim is an academic researcher from Ewha Womans University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cancer & Health care. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 5 publications receiving 41 citations.

Culturally Based Interventions for Families Whose Child Dies

Abstract: This study reports the results of eighteen Korean families living in South Korea, twenty-five Chinese families living in Taiwan, and twenty-two American families whose child had died from cancer. All the families were interviewed in their own language and in their homes. All interviews were translated and transcribed into English as needed. The impact of the child's death from cancer on the family has four broad aspects: the manifestations of grief, the experiences of support or nonsupport, the meaning of life and of death, and changes in attitudes. Illustrations are given of the similarities and differences among the American, Chinese and Korean families in their responses.

Impact of childhood cancer on religious life of Korean families.

Abstract: This paper reports on the social and personal relevance of religious faith entering into the situation of family stress due to the illness of a child with cancer. The expectations of religious faith may include, objectively, the actual physical healing of the child or the determination of the child's fate; it may include, subjectively, the hope for emotional support, the provision of moral guidance in time of difficulty, or an overarching life-view. There were major religious changes in 20% of the families. While all the major religious faiths in South Korea were represented in the study, 61% of the sample identified Christianity as their primary religious response.

The effect of childhood cancer on Hong Kong Chinese families at different stages of the disease.

Abstract: In Hong Kong the incidence of cancer is 144.3 per 1,000,000 children and is the first cause of disease-related death among children aged between 1 and 14 years. The diagnosis of cancer in a child poses a threat to the family unit, with many families experiencing difficulties as they cope with the demands of their child's illness. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the effects of cancer on the child, parents, and siblings during different stages of the disease. An in-depth individual interview was undertaken with 13 Chinese parents, 10 children, and 11 well siblings. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified 5 key areas including knowledge and understanding of the nature of the disease, being truthful, responses to the disease, changing family relationships, and changes in family life. This article focuses on the findings of 2 of these key areas: knowledge and understanding of the nature of the disease and being truthful. The findings indicate that all parents were fully aware of the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of their child's disease. The child's knowledge of the disease varied, depending in part on parents' willingness to tell their children about the disease and its prognosis. Most parents were reluctant to share information about the disease with their children. Children, however, were found to have considerably more knowledge about the disease than parents reported, indicating a gap in communication between parents and children. The findings indicate the importance of disclosure about the disease within the family and the need for practitioners to facilitate information sharing among family members within this population group.

Cultural views of cancer around the world.

Abstract: Social attitudes toward cancer, participation in early detection and screening services, and compliance with treatment are all known to be profoundly affected by cultural beliefs and norms. It is thus imperative that oncology nurses develop cultural competence and deliver culturally sensitive care. Cross-cultural nursing studies also require cultural sensitivity because they rely on the accurate choice of culturally relevant research methods. However, the specific steps that should be taken to enhance the cultural relevance of both nursing health care delivery and nursing research have yet to be elaborated. This article aims to clarify these issues on the basis of a critical survey of the literature on cultural views of cancer in multiethnic societies and in various countries around the world. The analysis of studies focusing on this subject illuminates misconceptions that may interfere with the application of cancer nursing to other cultures, and possible misinterpretations of cultural and cross-cultural research findings. The conclusions drawn from this analysis concern practical means for facilitating nurses' ability to properly address cultural diversity through the incorporation of culture-related variables into nursing interventions. They also relate to the education of nurses about cross-cultural aspects of cancer, culturally sensitive assessment tools, comparative studies, and theories in the field of international cancer nursing, all of which await further development.