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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Sep;24(9):1152-8.
doi: 10.1002/pon.3788. Epub 2015 Mar 1.

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

Martin Cernvall  1 , Per Carlbring  2 , Lisa Ljungman  1 , Gustaf Ljungman  3 , Louise von Essen  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Martin Cernvall et al. Psychooncology. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an Internet-based guided self-help intervention for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related symptoms in parents of children on cancer treatment.

Methods: Parents of children on cancer treatment, who fulfilled the modified symptom criteria on the PTSD Checklist, were randomly allocated to the intervention or to a wait-list control condition. The intervention group accessed a 10-week guided self-help program via the Internet based on principles from cognitve behavior therapy. The primary outcome PTSS and the secondary outcomes depression and anxiety were assessed by self-report preintervention and postintervention.

Results: Seven hundred forty-seven parents were approached and informed about the study, 92 were assessed for eligibility, and 58 were included and randomized to the intervention (n = 31) or wait list (n = 27). Eightteen participants completed the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses indicated a significant effect of the intervention on PTSS with a large between-group effect size at postassessment (Cohen's d = 0.88). The intervention group reported reductions in PTSS with a large within-group effect size (d = 1.62) compared with a minimal reduction in the wait-list group (d = 0.09). There was a significant intervention effect on depression and anxiety and reductions in the intervention group with large within-group effect sizes (d = 0.85-1.09).

Conclusions: Findings indicate a low enrollment rate and considerable attrition but also that Internet-based guided self-help shows promise for parents of children on cancer treatment who report a high level of PTSS and would like to take part in an Internet-based intervention.

Keywords: cancer; internet-based intervention; oncology; parents; posttraumatic stress; randomized controlled trial.

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Figure 1
Consort diagram of participant flow through the study
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