Meaning-making through digital storytelling: Experiences of children and adolescents with cancer within Peplau's theory and a hermeneutic approach.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the meaning-making processes of children and adolescents with cancer through Digital Storytelling (DS), grounded in Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory and a hermeneutic approach.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted using a philosophical hermeneutic design in the pediatric hematology and oncology units of a university hospital in western Türkiye. A purposive sample of 17 children/adolescents (n = 17), aged 7-18 years and having received at least one cycle of chemotherapy, participated in a four-session DS program. Data were collected between January and July 2024 through digital stories, semi-structured interviews with children/adolescents and parents, and researcher reflection journals. Hermeneutic analysis was performed, following iterative interpretation of narratives and the hermeneutic circle.

RESULTS

Participants created 17 digital stories reflecting their cancer experiences. The stories revealed six interrelated themes: (1) Illness and bodily experiences, (2) Social exclusion and societal perceptions, (3) Family relationships and responsibility sharing, (4) Hope, dreams, and future orientation, (5) Social support and friendship, and (6) Knowledge, sharing, and learning from experiences. DS facilitated children's engagement in symptom management, enhanced coping strategies, fostered emotional expression, and strengthened social connectedness. Parents reported increased motivation and improved family communication, while the researcher's reflections indicated mutual meaning-making and professional growth.

CONCLUSION

Digital Storytelling, integrated with Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory, is an innovative, holistic nursing approach that supports meaning-making, psychosocial adjustment, and symptom management in pediatric oncology care. The findings suggest DS as a feasible therapeutic communication tool for children and adolescents with cancer.