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The loss of a child greatly affects the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in bereaved families. This study explored the relationships in bereaved Korean families from the perspectives of mothers after the death of a child due to cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers of a deceased child with childhood cancer. Thematic analysis identified 12 subthemes related to bereaved mothers' struggles in grief within three significant themes based on family relationships: (a) relationship with husband; (b) relationship with surviving child or children; and (c) relationships with extended family members. Findings highlight bereaved mothers' need to build supportive family relationships while acknowledging bereaved family members' different grieving styles and their own challenges in grieving the loss of a child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for a child with cancer greatly affects fathers' social lives, with fathers experiencing conflicts between work demands and their desire to be with their sick child. To date, fathers' unique experiences of caring for a child with cancer remain poorly understood. This study aimed to understand the impact of a child's cancer diagnosis on the social and work relationships of their father through in-depth interviews with 20 Korean fathers of a child with cancer within 5 years of the diagnosis. Thematic analysis yielded five themes related to how a child's cancer diagnosis affected the father's relationships at work and in social situations: (a) shifting priorities, (b) changes in work, (c) support and struggles at work, (d) not being social out of guilt, and (e) pent-up stress. Overall, the findings highlight that fathers experienced conflicting roles and constraints in social relationships after their child's cancer diagnosis. This should be considered when developing and implementing social services for families with children diagnosed with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It remains unclear whether lateral joint space narrowing without severe cartilage loss before meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) affects clinical outcomes and graft extrusion. Hypothesis: Patients with greater preoperative joint space narrowing would show more graft extrusion, more osteoarthritis progression, and worse clinical outcomes than would those with less narrowing. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 61 patients who underwent lateral MAT and had a minimum follow-up of 4 to 5 years. The median preoperative joint space width (JSW) on Rosenberg view radiographs was used to classify patients into those with less joint space narrowing (JSW ≥3 mm; group A) and greater joint space narrowing (JSW <3 mm; group B). We compared differences between groups in terms of graft extrusion and articular cartilage loss (modified Outerbridge grade ≥3) on 1-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and changes in JSW and clinical outcomes at the last follow-up. Results: There were 31 patients in group A and 30 patients in group B; the mean follow-up time for all patients was 64.4 ± 10.3 months. All patients showed a significant preoperative to postoperative improvement in outcome scores (P <.001 for all). The mean preoperative JSW was 3.8 ± 0.9 mm in group A and 2.3 ± 0.4 mm in group B (P <.001). In group B, there was more graft extrusion on postoperative MRI scans (3.0 ± 0.9 vs 1.9 ± 0.6 mm, respectively; P <.001) and a higher proportion of patients with pathological graft extrusion at final follow-up (43.3% vs 12.9%, respectively; P =.011) compared with group A. At 1 year postoperatively, cartilage loss grade ≥3 was observed at the lateral femoral condyle in 3.2% and 20.0% of patients in groups A and B (P =.053), respectively, and at the lateral tibial plateau in 3.2% and 30.0% of patients (P =.006), respectively. There were moderate correlations between graft extrusion and preoperative absolute JSW (r = –0.471; P <.001) and preoperative relative JSW (r = –0.428; P =.001). Conclusion: Patients with less preoperative joint space narrowing had less graft extrusion and cartilage loss on 1-year postoperative MRI scans, as well as better radiological and clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up, compared with patients with greater preoperative narrowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored oncologists' experiences of delivering bad news to patients with cancer and their families. Nine oncologists recruited from three superior hospitals in Korea completed in-depth interviews. The results of thematic analyses identified four themes: precursors to bad news delivery, why it is difficult to deliver bad news, when it is more difficult to deliver bad news, and strategies of delivering bad news. The participants felt unprepared for the task and stressed because breaking bad news goes against their responsibility to do no harm and their professional objective to promote healing. Although they were unclear about best practices regarding communication styles, they individualized their communication style to meet the needs of their patients, who have an array of cultural, social, and spiritual backgrounds. Understanding oncologists' perceptions of bad news delivery can inform culturally appropriate interventions for alleviating their stress and improving patient–physician relationships in communication of bad news. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal gambling has significantly affected individuals' lives in South Korea, and it is difficult for problematic gamblers to recover despite the decreasing rate of problematic gambling. This study used photovoice to explore the life experiences and desires of seven male problematic gamblers in a rehabilitation center during their path to recovery in South Korea. Photovoice consisted of six sessions involving orientation, photo-taking and group discussions of photographs, and sharing of outcomes. Twelve subthemes emerged within four main themes predetermined by the participants: (a) my life after gambling, (b) what I have lost from gambling, (c) what would help my recovery, and (d) picturing myself recovered in the near future. Participants' lives had completely changed after they started gambling; particularly, their personality had been negatively affected and their life became filled with mental suffering. Their financial well-being was compromised, their health worsened, and they lost the trust of other people and a sense of purpose in their lives. Despite these challenges, they made tremendous efforts to recover from gambling and pictured a recovered future. The lived narratives provide evidence that recovery from gambling problems is a long journey including recognition of the problem and development of personal strategies that are perceived as beneficial for their recovery and strengthening their motivation for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving a good-quality death for children with cancer is as paramount as saving their life, given its implications for both the children’s end-of-life quality and the grief journey of their parents. This study explored factors contributing to a good death for children with cancer, as perceived by bereaved parents in South Korea. A retrospective survey was conducted, involving 58 bereaved parents of a child who died of cancer. t-tests and regressions were performed to identify factors related to deceased children associated with parents’ reports of a good death for children with cancer. The results revealed significant correlations between parents’ age, income, religious affiliation, time elapsed since death, child’s age at death, and cancer recurrence with several aspects of a good death. These findings underscore the importance of assessing characteristics of both parents and their children to enhance the quality of death experienced by children with cancer in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a child with cancer affects the dyadic relationship between caregivers and the child. This study focused on changes in parenting and discipline among mothers after their child was diagnosed with cancer. We used semistructured interviews to explore 20 mothers' experiences of parenting a child who had been diagnosed with cancer during the prior 5 years and before the age of 19 years in South Korea. Thematic analysis yielded five themes related to parenting changes: parental overprotection, increased parental permissiveness, use of threats to ensure compliance, concern for the child's stress levels, and mothers' confusion about optimal parenting. All mothers reported uncertainty and concern regarding how best to parent their sick child to ensure optimal health outcomes. The findings inform best practices for integrating medical and mental health care to support optimal maternal parenting and encourage optimal health outcomes for children with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoice was used to understand the impact of childhood cancer on Korean young adult survivors. Seven survivors of childhood cancer (currently aged 20–27 years), diagnosed before the age of 19 and with cancer treatment completed, participated in five sessions. The participants took photographs that captured their group’s weekly topics and participated in discussions about their feelings and experiences. Fifty-six photo images with narratives on the survivors’ experiences were produced on these four participant-selected themes: Relationships With Others, Stigma, Overcoming Difficulties, and The Future. This study on Korean childhood cancer survivors sheds light on their perspectives about the impact of cancer. Using an innovative methodology that takes the participants’ point of view, this study contributes to the literature on young adult cancer survivors’ quality of life and their psychosocial adjustment. The results can inform educational programs and increase public awareness by providing survivors’ schoolteachers and peers with knowledge about childhood cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of North Korean refugees residing in South Korea face significant challenges in cultural adjustment. However, psychosocial adjustment of North Korean young refugees is not fully understood. To address this research gap, this study explores the life experiences of 10 North Korean adolescent and young adult refugees who resettled in South Korea. Using Photovoice as a participatory research tool consisting of individual interviews, group discussions, and visual representations, six major themes emerged: friends, what we have lost, the world we live in, culture, life goals, and values. Participants reported experiencing social exclusion and peer discrimination as barriers to successful adjustment in South Korea. They also defined their new homeland as a place where competition, material wealth, and social status are highly valued, while traditional values and nature are shunned. Despite these barriers, all of the participants have made efforts to adapt to their new homeland and create new life goals with support from the group home where the participants resided in South Korea. Recognizing and understanding complex issues related to psychosocial adjustments of these refugees can inform the development of culturally relevant psychosocial interventions that foster a sense of belonging and promote coping mechanisms for these young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]