UNAIR NEWS ” Childhood cancer remains a major health challenge worldwide, with mortality rates among young cancer patients still alarmingly high. Globally, more than 105,000 children and adolescents die from cancer each year. Addressing the care needs of pediatric cancer patients thus presents significant challenges.
Prof. Dr. Hj. Yuni Sufyanti Arief, S.Kp., M.Kes., a newly appointed Professor of Pediatric Nursing at 51¶¯Âþ™s Faculty of Nursing (FKP), explored this issue during her professorial oration at Garuda Mukti Hall, Management Office, MERR-C Campus. She underscored the critical role families play in the therapeutic journey of children battling cancer.
“Families are instrumental in providing emotional support, ensuring a sense of security and comfort, and delivering ongoing education. Importantly, the emotional stability families offer greatly influences not just the child’s recovery but also the family™s own mental well-being,” she emphasized.
Advancing holistic nursing care
Prof. Sufyanti Arief pointed out that living with cancer represents a deeply challenging and arduous journey for children. A diagnosis of cancer impacts not only the patient but also the entire family network. Children endure physical, emotional, and psychological hardships throughout their treatment.
“Comprehensive care for children with cancer demands a holistic approach, one that recognizes and addresses their multifaceted needs. This care should be thoughtfully designed to provide integrated medical, emotional, and psychological support,” she explained.
Family-centered empowerment, she said, can be achieved through the application of the FACE (Family Centered Empowerment) model, an intervention framework designed for pediatric cancer care. ” The holistic process begins with a thorough assessment”not only physical evaluations but also an exploration of lifestyle patterns, social relationships, emotional conditions, and spiritual dimensions,” she noted.
Introducing FACE model
Prof. Sufyanti Arief detailed how the Family Centered Empowerment (FACE) model places families at the heart of a child™s healing and recovery process. “The application of the FACE model in pediatric cancer care fosters greater comfort for both patients and their families, ultimately contributing to a better quality of life,” she remarked.
In her conclusion, Prof. Sufyanti Arief emphasized that the innovation of the FACE model represents a crucial advancement in efforts to enhance the lives of children with cancer. By empowering families and implementing a holistic care strategy, she expressed hope that young patients could experience improved care outcomes.
“Achieving this goal requires collaboration among healthcare professionals, families, and communities to build an environment conducive to healing. The FACE model also highlights the importance of active family involvement in the care process and encourages ongoing research to refine and expand this approach,” she concluded.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
