Development of an education program for parents of children with cancer

A structured education program for parents of children with cancer has been developed and has undergone pilot testing. Content included both medical and psychosocial materials. The parent education program supplemented the existing educational and emotional support services of a large, childhood cancer treatment center. Written materials, self-instructional exercises, lectures, visual aids, and small group discussions were incorporated into the program. This variety of topics and teaching techniques was appealing to parents and appeared to enhance learning. Parents enthusiastically attended the program pilots, gained and retained the new information, and appeared to benefit emotionally from their participation.