Parenting concerns among Japanese parents with cancer raising minor children: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional web-based survey of online patient support network members

Objective To examine sociodemographic, clinical, and support-related factors associated with parenting concerns among Japanese parents with cancer raising children aged <18 years. Methods This secondary analysis used data from a cross-sectional web survey previously conducted to validate the Japanese Parenting Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ). Invitations were sent to 2,852 members of a Japanese online patient support network, and 174 parents responded. PCQ analyses were restricted to 157 participants who selected Married in the survey marital-status variable. The PCQ total score was the primary outcome, and three subscales were exploratory outcomes. Multiple linear regression analyses used a post hoc parsimonious model and an expanded forced-entry sensitivity model. Results Participants had a median age of 45 years, and 145 (83%) reported female sex. In the parsimonious total-score model, higher PCQ scores were associated with female sex (B = 5.33, 95% CI 1.03-9.64), uterine/ovarian cancer (B = 6.19, 95% CI 1.00-11.38), chemotherapy (B = 3.54, 95% CI 0.11-6.96), a self-reported past/current psychiatric history (B = 5.46, 95% CI 2.43-8.49), and reported wanting practical support with parenting (B = 5.74, 95% CI 1.98-9.49). In the expanded model, the associations with uterine/ovarian cancer, chemotherapy, self-reported past/current psychiatric history, and reported wanting practical support with parenting remained, whereas the female-sex association was attenuated (P = 0.076). Subscale findings were exploratory and several were model-dependent. Conclusions Despite the limited single-network sample and low response rate, this study found that parenting concerns were associated with several self-reported characteristics and preferences for parenting support. However, these exploratory cross-sectional findings do not establish causal relationships or provide sufficient evidence to justify clinical targeting. Further confirmation in larger and more representative samples is needed.