Abstract
Objectives: Childhood cancer is a significant life event that leads to a range of potential sources of anxiety for both the child and their parents. This research aimed to consider the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of a workshop targeting anxiogenic parenting processes with the view of reducing experiences of anxiety in this population. Its light-touch nature was predicted to be applicable to the demands placed on these parents and have cost-effective implications for clinical settings.
Methods: A mixed-methods design was used to consider the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of the workshop for parents of children with cancer in a paediatric oncology service in the South of England (n=15). Outcome measures were collected at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), one-month (T2) and three-month (T3) follow-up points and were analysed using reliable change calculations. Semi-structured interviews at T3 were analysed using thematic analysis to provide additional insight into the intervention’s feasibility and acceptability.
Results: The workshop was generally considered acceptable to participants however limitations with regard to its feasibility were observed in the low uptake rate. No clear patterns were noted with regard to reliable change on outcome measures across time points, however qualitative feedback indicated some perceived benefits regarding the content and format of the intervention.
Conclusions: While the small-scale design of the study has limitations, there are some implications for clinical practice including the potential usefulness for children who present with higher levels of anxiety at baseline, and the consideration of support across the stages of care in paediatric cancer. Research implications for measuring outcomes and recruitment in this population are discussed."