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A Cognitive- Behavioral Play Intervention for Siblings of Children Diagnosed With Cancer

A Cognitive- Behavioral Play Intervention for Siblings of Children Diagnosed With Cancer: A Pilot Study

Status
Terminated
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01704885
Enrollment
5
Registered
2012-10-12
Start date
2011-09-30
Completion date
2015-07-31
Last updated
2015-08-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Any Cancer Diagnosis

Keywords

Childhood Cancer, Sibling Play intervention, Sibling Behavioral Intervention, Siblings of Cancer Patients

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to determine whether a brief (three 20-30 minute session) cognitive-behavioral play intervention will improve coping skills and adjustment for siblings of children diagnosed with cancer.

Detailed description

Aim 1: Assess baseline adjustment, coping, pretend play, parenting stress, and family interactions. * Hypothesis 1a: Children with siblings diagnosed with cancer will have lower levels of adjustment, coping skills, and pretend play compared to previous sample norms. * Hypothesis 1b: The child's adjustment will be mediated by factors related to their involvement in the sibling's medical care, such as parent's level of communication regarding their sibling's illness, frequent isolation from the family and other social support, time since their sibling's diagnosis, and parenting stress. -Hypothesis 1c: Parents of children diagnosed with cancer will report higher levels of parenting stress compared to previous sample norms. Aim 2: Assess outcome of three play intervention sessions focusing on increasing coping and adjustment. * Hypothesis 2a: Compared to the active control, children in the play intervention group will have increased coping skills after intervention. * Hypothesis 2b: Compared to the active control, children in the play intervention group will have better psychological adjustment following intervention. * Hypothesis 2c: Parents of children in the play intervention group will report decreased parenting stress following the intervention. Once parents consent to participate and their child provides assent, they and their child will complete the baseline questionnaires and measures. Immediately following completion of the baseline measures, the child will be randomly assigned to either the play intervention or active control group.Children will also be asked to rate their mood at the beginning of each play session. The outcome parent and child questionnaires will be administered again at a session approximately one week after the third play session, for a total of four play sessions each spaced approximately one week apart. Children will also be asked to rate their satisfaction with the treatment at the outcome session (e.g., How much did you like being a part of this study?).

Interventions

OTHERQuestionnaires

Sponsors

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Families who have had children diagnosed with any type of cancer in the past year. * At least one sibling between the ages of 4 and 10 years old * Patients will be targeted 1-2 months after diagnosis, but could be included in the study up to 12 months following diagnosis.

Exclusion criteria

\-

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of children with increase in coping skills after intervention4 weeksCompared to the active control, children in the play intervention group will have increased coping skills after intervention.
Number of children with better psychological adjustment following intervention4 weeksCompared to the active control, children in the play intervention group will have better psychological adjustment following intervention.
Number of parents with decreased parenting stress following intervention4 weeksParents of children in the play intervention group will report decreased parenting stress following the intervention.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026