Movie making as a cognitive distraction for paediatric patients receiving radiotherapy treatment: qualitative interview study

Abstract

Objectives: To establish the outcomes achieved by using an innovative movie-making programme designed to reduce fear of radiotherapy among paediatric patients.

Design: Qualitative descriptive evaluation based on semistructured, qualitative interviews with purposeful sampling and thematic analysis.

Setting: Tertiary Cancer Centre.

Participants: 20 parents of paediatric patients who had produced a movie of their radiation therapy experience and were in a follow-up phase of cancer management.

Results: Participants attributed a broad range of outcomes to the movie-making program. These included that the programme had helped reduce anxiety and distress exhibited by paediatric patients and contributed to a willingness to receive treatment. Other outcomes were that the completed movies had been used in school reintegration and for maintaining social connections.

Conclusions: Allowing children to create a video of their experience of radiotherapy provided a range of benefits to paediatric patients that varied according to their needs. For some patients, movie-making offered a valuable medium for overcoming fear of the unknown as well as increasing understanding of treatment processes. For others, the development of a personalised video offered an important cognitive/attentional distraction through engaging with an age-appropriate activity. Together these outcomes helped children maintain self-control and a positive outlook.