When a parent has cancer: a community based program for school personnel.
Little information has been published on interventions designed to help school personnel respond to challenges faced by a family dealing with parental cancer. The current study describes the development and piloting of a program that educated school professionals about cancer's impact on families, and effective ways of supporting families facing parental cancer. The program was implemented at four sites; 244 participants completed self-report questionnaires before and after the program assessing knowledge and anxiety about helping families. t-tests indicated that after the program, participants rated themselves as significantly more knowledgeable and confident about helping families with parental cancer. These differences represented large effect sizes. Post hoc comparisons revealed that initial knowledge and knowledge change varied by profession, having had personal experience with cancer, and having worked with several families facing cancer. Participants reported learning about how to reach out and listen to families' needs. These results are extremely encouraging; plans for further program refinements and evaluation are discussed.
Fasciano
Karen M
KM
The Wellness Community of greater Boston, USA. Kfasciano@partners.org
Berman
Harriet
H
Moore
Cynthia
C
DeFrino
Beth
B
Jameson
Rachel
R
Kennedy
Vicki
V
Golant
Mitch
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003479:Curriculum; D005178:Faculty; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012944:Social Support