The religious orthodox family in the pediatric hemato-oncology department

Background: Extensive research has been conducted on the subject of cultural influences on behaviors, attitudes, beliefs and interpersonal relations of patients in the medical world. Cancer is a life-threatening illness and the intense emotional reactions to it enhance the influence of subcultural behaviors and attitudes towards the illness, the treatments and towards the medical staff. Aims: This paper aims to describe what happens at the encounter between the medical subculture, which is mainly secular, and the orthodox subculture, of the child treated for cancer and his family. Method: A support group of orthodox mothers was organized. The discussions were recorded and analyzed with "content analysis" method. This article presents the themes that evolved from the analysis, which relate to the effects of the cultural encounter. Results: Themes of the discussions describe the way the child and his family cope with the illness during hospitalization and at home between hospitalizations. Specific difficulties of fathers, mothers, children and adolescents become apparent. Reference was made to the dilemma of doctor vs. Rabbi, two authorities managing the treatment process. Conclusions: When the medical staff is aware and sensitive to the unique difficulties of the orthodox child and his family, this will assist in coping with the pain of the illness. Similarly, awareness of the orthodox community and leadership to the hospital culture will also help the family in its ordeal.