Being a parent and coping with cancer: intervention development.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Oncology
• Family Studies

Background:

• Parental cancer diagnosis significantly impacts family dynamics and mental well-being.
• Families with a cancer-diagnosed parent face unique psychological distress.
• The child-parent relationship is vulnerable during a parent's cancer journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot an intervention for parents diagnosed with cancer.
• To address the specific coping needs of parents undergoing cancer treatment.
• To support the child-parent relationship amidst parental cancer.

Main Methods:

• A four-module psychological intervention was created based on focus groups with parents and professionals.
• Intervention modules include: Telling and Sharing, Children's Responses, Routine and Changes, and Learning and Awareness as a Parent.
• Psycho-educational and cognitive-behavioral techniques form the core of the intervention.

Main Results:

• A one-day workshop format was found to be more feasible than a four-session model.
• Participating parents reported feeling empowered in their parental role.
• Parents gained tools for understanding and communicating with their children's needs.

Conclusions:

• A tailored intervention can effectively address the distinct needs of parents with cancer.
• Further research is required to validate the intervention's efficacy.
• This intervention shows promise in supporting parents and families coping with cancer.