Participants defined their father role as: being a team parent, an adaptable father, supporter, provider, a present father, and protector.

Participants completed quantitative surveys of their information preferences and support needs. Analysis followed Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Individual, voice-recorded interviews were transcribed for semantic content qualitative analysis. In this study, four fathers of pediatric brain tumor patients receiving palliative care consultations responded to eight open-ended questions. In the study setting, a neuro-oncology diagnosis results in an automatic referral to the palliative care team, and thus, a convenience sampling model was employed based on consecutive palliative care consults for new childhood brain tumor diagnoses. This case series study explores the paternal roles, responsibilities, strengths, challenges, personal growth, and support needs of fathers of children with brain tumors receiving new palliative care consultations.

Paternal caregiver experience has been significantly underexplored in pediatric neuro-oncology research as compared to maternal experience. A pediatric brain tumor diagnosis impacts an entire family unit, from diagnosis through curative treatment, and into survivorship or bereavement.

Kid with 2 brain tumors dad speaks out