Effectiveness of a Technology-Based Psychosocial Empowerment Program for Children With Cancer and Their Parents in...

Children with cancer and their parents require continuous psychosocial support beyond hospital-based care, particularly in settings where structured, family-centered psychosocial services are limited. Although evidence-based psychosocial interventions exist, these are predominantly developed and implemented in well-resourced healthcare systems and may not be readily accessible or scalable in different care contexts. However, evidence on structured, technology-based psychosocial empowerment programs targeting both children and parents within home-based care remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a technology-based psychosocial empowerment program for children with cancer receiving care in the home setting and their parents.

This parallel-group randomized controlled trial included 64 children with cancer (aged 8-18 years) and their parents, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention (n = 32) or a control (n = 32) group. The intervention group took part in a 4-week, web-based psychosocial empowerment program based on Psychological Empowerment Theory, which included modules designed specifically for children and parents. In comparison, the control group received standard care. Psychosocial outcomes were assessed using validated measures of self-efficacy, anxiety, coping, problem-solving, and psychological resilience at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using variance analysis.

Children in the intervention group showed significantly higher levels of self-efficacy and coping, along with lower levels of state and trait anxiety compared to the control group (all p < 0.001; ${\eta }_p^2$ range = 0.48-0.68). Similarly, parents in the intervention group showed significantly higher self-efficacy, problem-solving skills, and psychological resilience than those in the control group (all p < 0.001; ${\eta }_p^2$ range = 0.40-0.82). These effects were maintained at the 1-month follow-up.

Technology-based psychosocial empowerment programs integrated into home-based care effectively enhance the psychosocial well-being of children with cancer and their parents. These psychological empowerment programs provide a systematic, innovative, and sustainable approach that can be integrated into home-based care and follow-up processes in pediatric oncology.

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05566951), https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05566951, registered on April 25, 2023.