Effects of a Web-Based Pediatric Oncology Legacy Intervention on Parental Coping

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effects of a legacy intervention for children with advanced cancer and their parents on parental coping strategies.

Sample & setting: The authors recruited 150 children with advanced cancer and their parents via Facebook.

Methods & variables: Child-parent dyads were randomly assigned to the intervention or usual care. Children in the intervention group created electronic digital storyboards to assist in documenting their legacies. Parents completed the Responses to Stress Questionnaire at baseline/preintervention (T1) and postintervention (T2). Linear regressions were used to test for differences between the groups in the amount of change from T1 to T2 for each parent coping score.

Results: Although not statistically significant, the legacy intervention showed trends toward increasing use of primary control and disengagement coping strategies in parents over time relative to usual care.

Implications for nursing: Nurses can help to facilitate opportunities for parents to use adaptive coping strategies. More work is needed to determine how legacy interventions in pediatric oncology can facilitate adaptive coping strategies for parents of children with cancer.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04059393.

Keywords: coping skills; parents; pediatric oncology; web-based intervention.