title: Feasibility and preliminary outcomes from a pilot study of a brief psychological intervention for families of children newly diagnosed with cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kazak
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simms
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alderfer
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rourke
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Portia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boeving
authors.forename: Wei-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: 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