Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to pilot PAX (“Play, Act & Interact”), an activity-based emotional support intervention for caregivers of child with cancer, which focuses on addressing their psychological distress and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs).

Method

Sixteen mothers whose children were child with cancer participated in this 4-week intervention. Their children (n = 16; 14 males; median age at diagnosis = 10.3 years; the median amount of time from diagnosis = 9 months) were at different treatment stages for a range of different diagnoses. Caregivers completed self-report instruments assessing their psychological distress including PTSSs and family functioning before and after the intervention and a brief open-response exit survey. Paired sample t-tests were computed to compare the pre-and post-intervention scores.

Results

The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist scores significantly decreased from pre- (M = 37.00, SD = 14.75) to post-intervention (M = 32.56, SD = 15.52), t(15) = 4.25, p < .001. There was also a significant difference between pre- (M = 33.5, SD = 3.18) and post-intervention (M = 35.7, SD = 3.14) scores on the Family Adherence subscale of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales III, t(15) = −2.58, p = .02.

Conclusions

PAX was a promising intervention for supporting caregivers’ PTSSs and family adaptability. Future studies investigating the long-term effects and replicating the current study with more participants and a control group are needed.

中文翻译：

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为癌症儿童的照顾者开发和试点实施基于活动的情感支持干预

摘要

客观的

本研究旨在试点 PAX（“游戏、行动和互动”），这是一种基于活动的情绪支持干预措施，针对癌症儿童的照顾者，其重点是解决他们的心理困扰和创伤后应激症状 (PTSS)。

方法

16 名孩子患有癌症的母亲参与了这项为期 4 周的干预。他们的孩子（n = 16；14 名男性；诊断时的中位年龄 = 10.3 岁；诊断后的中位时间 = 9 个月）针对一系列不同的诊断处于不同的治疗阶段。护理人员完成了评估他们心理困扰的自我报告工具，包括干预前后的 PTSS 和家庭功能，以及简短的开放式退出调查。计算配对样本 t 检验以比较干预前和干预后的分数。

结果

从干预前 (M = 37.00, SD = 14.75) 到干预后 (M = 32.56, SD = 15.52), t (15) = 4.25, p < .001 , 创伤后应激障碍检查表评分显着下降。在家庭适应性和凝聚力评估量表 III, t (15 ) = -2.58，p = .02。

结论

PAX 是一种很有前途的干预措施，可支持照顾者的 PTSS 和家庭适应性。未来的研究需要调查长期影响并在更多参与者和对照组中复制当前研究。