Development and pilot implementation of an activity-based emotional support intervention for caregivers of children with cancer

This study aimed to pilot PAX (“Play, Act & Interact”), an activity-based emotional support intervention for caregivers of child with cancer, which focuses on addressing their psychological distress and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs).

Sixteen mothers whose children were child with cancer participated in this 4-week intervention. Their children (n = 16; 14 males; median age at diagnosis = 10.3 years; the median amount of time from diagnosis = 9 months) were at different treatment stages for a range of different diagnoses. Caregivers completed self-report instruments assessing their psychological distress including PTSSs and family functioning before and after the intervention and a brief open-response exit survey. Paired sample t-tests were computed to compare the pre-and post-intervention scores.

The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist scores significantly decreased from pre- (M = 37.00, SD = 14.75) to post-intervention (M = 32.56, SD = 15.52), t(15) = 4.25, p < .001. There was also a significant difference between pre- (M = 33.5, SD = 3.18) and post-intervention (M = 35.7, SD = 3.14) scores on the Family Adherence subscale of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales III, t(15) = −2.58, p = .02.

PAX was a promising intervention for supporting caregivers’ PTSSs and family adaptability. Future studies investigating the long-term effects and replicating the current study with more participants and a control group are needed.