Feasibility and preliminary outcomes from a pilot study of a brief psychological intervention for families of children newly diagnosed with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To report initial feasibility and outcome from a pilot study of a new three-session intervention for caregivers of children newly diagnosed with cancer, Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program-Newly Diagnosed (SCCIP-ND).


METHODS
Nineteen families (38 caregivers) were randomly assigned to SCCIP-ND or treatment as usual subsequent to learning of their child's illness. The study design included pre- and 2-month postintervention assessments, with state anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms as outcomes. Feasibility was based on therapist feedback and supervision, program evaluations, and data from study-tracking procedures.


RESULTS
SCCIP-ND appears to be an acceptable intervention that can be used successfully with caregivers over the first few months after diagnosis. Recruitment and retention data document feasibility but also highlight challenges. Preliminary outcome data show changes in the desired direction [e.g., reduced anxiety and parental posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS)].


CONCLUSIONS
The pilot data are supportive of the value and challenges of developing evidence-based family interventions in pediatric psychology.
Kazak
Anne E
AE
Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Room 1486, CHOP North, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kazak@email.chop.edu
Simms
Steven
S
Alderfer
Melissa A
MA
Rourke
Mary T
MT
Crump
Terry
T
McClure
Kelly
K
Jones
Portia
P
Rodriguez
Alyssa
A
Boeving
Alexandra
A
Hwang
Wei-Ting
WT
Reilly
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012944:Social Support; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000628:therapy