Anticipatory Guidance and Psychoeducation as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology

Abstract

The aim of this review was to critically evaluate the literature on anticipatory guidance and psychoeducation for youth with cancer and their caregivers. Twenty‐one publications were identified. Overall, psychoeducation efforts and interventions were well‐liked and accepted by patients and caregivers, improved patient and family knowledge about childhood cancer, and increased patient's health locus of control. A number of modalities are effective in giving families anticipatory guidance, provided the content and delivery are matched to the needs and preferences of individual patients and caregivers. Evidence supports a strong recommendation for psychoeducation for youth with cancer and their families. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015; 9999:1–11 © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Impact of Cancer and its Treatment on the Growth and Development of the Pediatric Patient

“…Consensus guidelines for pediatric psychosocial care include structured interviews, monitoring of symptoms, and integrated care with oncology teams (Patenaude, Pelletier, & Bingen, 2015;Wiener, Kazak, Noll, Patenaude, & Kupst, 2015). Having psychosocial clinicians working with oncology providers from beginning aids in normalization and acceptance of psychosocial support, greater provider satisfaction, and facilitates medical team communication (Freyer et al, 2006;Patenaude & Kupst, 2005;Patenaude et al, 2015;Steele et al, 2015;Thompson & Young-Saleme, 2015;Wiener et al, 2015).…”

“…Mack & Grier, 2004). For children of all ages, it is important that a system for open and honest information exchange with their medical providers be set forth from the beginning, but consensus guidelines support anticipatory guidance and education of illness with children Thompson & Young-Saleme, 2015).…”

Psychoeducation as an Opportunity for Patients, Psychiatrists, and Psychiatric Educators: Why Do We Ignore It?

“…It has also been recommended that psychoeducation becomes a standard of care in pediatric oncology [18].…”

Anticipatory Guidance on the Risks for Unfavorable Outcomes among Children with Medical Complexity

“…234 Common topics focus on well-child and preventive health, including feeding, sleeping, growth, immunizations, safety and accident prevention, behavior, puberty, and sex education. Parents have reported increased healthcare satisfaction when anticipatory guidance is provided.…”

“…Psychoeducation is a related concept to anticipatory guidance; it seeks to provide information in order to empower, relieve uncertainty, and enhance psychosocial adaptation to the illness at hand. 3940 For example, a family of a child with profound cerebral palsy and static encephalopathy should know that she is still at risk for hospitalization due to a common respiratory viral infection and that such misfortunes do not belittle their meticulous home care.…”