がんの親をもつ児童生徒への学校での支援の実態と意識

<p>　Objectives：The number of cancer patients in the child-raising generation is increasing in Japan. Their school-aged children spend a good portion of the day at school, but the type of support being provided to them is unclear. This study aimed to ascertain the actual situation and perceptions surrounding support at school for children facing parental cancer.</p><p>Methods：A mail-based questionnaire survey was conducted in March 2010 targeting all 715 yogo teachers in one prefecture of the Kanto District. The questionnaire consisted of 32 items, including two free description items. Statistical analysis was conducted for 250 of the 715 teachers (effective answer rate, 35.0%), and content analysis was conducted on free descriptions regarding contents of consultations using the KJ method.</p><p>Results：All participants were women (mean age ± SD, 44.5 ± 9.9 years; mean years of experience, 21.3 ±10.8 years) ; 152 worked at elementary schools, 69 at junior high schools, and 29 at high schools; and 24.4% had experience consulting with children about parental cancer. Yogo teachers worked with class teachers to support these children, and the higher the school grade, the higher the proportion of children who consulted with yogo teachers about parental cancer. Many yogo teachers recognized their lack of knowledge regarding the support for children facing parental cancer need, and acknowledged that more information was required in order to help children along their developmental stages.</p><p>Conclusion：Our findings suggest that the hokenshitsu (the health care room) is able to serve as “a place to stay” for children facing parental cancer, and that yogo teachers can serve an important purpose in supporting them via mental and physical care. Our findings also underscore the need to develop tools and workshops for school teachers in order to adequately support children facing parental cancer.</p>