Cancer and the family: assessment, communication and brief interventions—the development of an educational programme for healthcare professionals when a parent has cancer

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study developed and piloted an educational intervention to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) to provide supportive care for families when a parent has cancer.MethodsProgramme development followed the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, beginning with examination of theory and research, and consultation with experts. The programme content incorporated attachment theory, child development and family systems theory. It was piloted thrice with HCPs from a cancer centre. The evaluation involved a questionnaire, comprising open-ended questions, completed before and after the programme. Data from the questionnaire were analysed using framework analysis.Results31 HCPs from varying disciplines participated. The programme was evaluated positively by participants. Before the programme, participants had significant concerns about their professional competence, which included: managing their own emotions; a perceived sensitivity around raising child and family matters with patients and a lack of specialist experience, skills and knowledge. After completing the programme, participants reported greater understanding and knowledge, increased confidence to approach patients about family matters, greater skill to initiate conversations and explore family concerns and guiding parent–child communication according to the child's level of understanding, and an increased engagement and resilience for caring for parents with cancer.Significance of the resultsSupporting HCPs to provide family-centred care is likely to reduce psychological difficulties in families where a parent has cancer. Further work is planned to disseminate the programme, evaluate the transfer of skills into practice, assess how HCPs manage the emotional demands of providing supportive care over time, and consider on-going professional support for HCPs.

The perceived effect of parental cancer on children still living at home: According to oncology health professionals

“…We also found it was common for HPs to have limited knowledge and experience with children and this was likely to affect their confidence to approach patients' children or have conversations with patients about their children. This supports earlier studies that found staff are encumbered by their lack of knowledge and expertise regarding children (Dencker et al, 2019;Grant, Sangha, Lister, & Wiseman, 2016;Turner et al, 2009) and require more education and experience to improve their confidence in supporting patients'…”

Health and social care professionals’ experiences of supporting parents and their dependent children during, and following, the death of a parent: A qualitative review and thematic synthesis

“…There are evidence-based interventions focusing on enhancing professionals’ knowledge of how to communicate with parents and children when parents are dying. 67,68 These support palliative care professionals in acute oncology settings and require face-to-face attendance at study workshops. 68,69 There is therefore, a need to develop alternative interventions for a broader professional population, focusing on supporting professionals to connect with parents and children both pre- and post-parental death and which can be delivered flexibly in a time and resource-limited environment.…”

“…67,68 These support palliative care professionals in acute oncology settings and require face-to-face attendance at study workshops. 68,69 There is therefore, a need to develop alternative interventions for a broader professional population, focusing on supporting professionals to connect with parents and children both pre- and post-parental death and which can be delivered flexibly in a time and resource-limited environment. There is a need to conduct participative research with professionals, surviving parents and with dependent children to investigate what is needed to support professionals in their emotional labour.…”

Process-evaluation and outcome-evaluation of a training programme for healthcare professionals in oncology to enhance their competencies in caring for patients with minor children: a study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled pilot trial for a training for HCPs in oncology to enhance their competencies in caring for patients with minor children. So far, only few studies have focused on this topic and have not included any control group 17 40…”