A parent tells the nurse that 80% of children with the same type of leukemia as his son's have a 5-year survival. He believes that because another child on the same protocol as his son has just died, his son now has a better chance of success
What is the best response by the nurse?
a. "It is sad for the other family but good news for your child."
b. "Each child has an 80% likelihood of 5-year survival."
c. "The data suggest that 20% of the children in the clinic will die. There are still many hurdles for your son."
d. "You should avoid the grieving family because you will be benefiting from their loss."
ANS: B
This is a common misconception for parents. The success data are based on numerous factors, including the effectiveness of the protocol and the child's response. These are aggregate data that apply to each child and do not depend on the success or failure in other children. The failure of one child in a protocol does not improve the success rate for other children. Although the son does face more hurdles, these are aggregate data, not specific to the clinic. It may be difficult for this family to be supportive given their concerns about their child. Families usually form support groups in pediatric oncology settings, and support during bereavement is common.
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