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Internet-based guided self-help for parents of children on cancer treatment: a randomized controlled trial

Martin Cernvall1, Per Carlbring2, Lisa Ljungman1

  • 1Clinical Psychology in Healthcare, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Psycho-Oncology
|March 3, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study found that an Internet-based guided self-help program significantly reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and anxiety in parents of children with cancer. While enrollment was low, the intervention shows promise for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Oncology
  • Digital Health

Background:

  • Parents of children undergoing cancer treatment often experience significant psychological distress, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).
  • Existing interventions may not be accessible or suitable for all parents facing these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an Internet-based guided self-help intervention for PTSS and related symptoms in parents of children with cancer.
  • To evaluate the intervention's impact on depression and anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial was conducted with parents meeting modified PTSD Checklist criteria.
  • Participants were assigned to either a 10-week Internet-based guided self-help intervention (cognitive behavior therapy principles) or a wait-list control group.
  • Primary outcome (PTSS) and secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety) were measured via self-report pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

  • Fifty-eight parents were randomized; 18 completed the intervention.
  • Intention-to-treat analyses revealed a significant large effect size for the intervention on PTSS (Cohen's d = 0.88).
  • The intervention group showed significant reductions in PTSS, depression, and anxiety compared to the wait-list group, with large within-group effect sizes.

Conclusions:

  • Despite low enrollment and high attrition, the Internet-based guided self-help intervention demonstrates potential efficacy for parents of children with cancer experiencing high PTSS.
  • The findings suggest this digital approach may be a valuable option for parents seeking support for psychological distress.
  • Further research with optimized recruitment and retention strategies is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
cancerinternet-based interventiononcologyparentsposttraumatic stressrandomized controlled trial

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