Abstract
Based on Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory, we clarified parents' intentions toward informing their children with cancer treated on an outpatient basis and the contents of parents' uncertainty developing in the process of evaluating their own intention. In addition, parents' perception of uncertainty was analyzed to obtain clues for the provision of support for parents' decision-making. A semi-structured interview was performed in 15 parents of children with cancer treated on an outpatient basis. As a result, parents' intentions toward informing their cancer children as outpatients were: "I have no intention of informing", "I will not keep the disease secret when my child asks me but will not disclose it first.", "I should inform but can not make up my mind.", and "There is no need to keep the disease secret." When the parents decide whether they inform their children, they first evaluated whether informing is necessary and whether there are conditions appropriate for informing. The parents considered that informing is important when their children leave them because of the necessity of self-management. When they considered informing necessary, they needed information on informing methods and support after informing. Agreement on informing between the father and mother, or between the parents and primary-care physician was necessary, but the parents hesitated to inform because of few opportunities, places, and persons for frank consultation.
