eSCCIP: A psychosocial ehealth intervention for parents of children with cancer.

Abstract

Objective: eHealth interventions may facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based psychosocial interventions to families of children with chronic illnesses, including cancer. This article describes a 4-phase, mixed-methods, user-centered approach to the design and evaluation of a novel psychosocial intervention for parents of children with cancer (Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program [eSCCIP]), adapted from an in-person intervention (Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program). Method: Development of eSCCIP involved a multidisciplinary design team of content and eHealth experts. Iterative Think Aloud testing and beta testing with parents of children with cancer was also completed. Results: An intensive, user-centered development and evaluation process was utilized to develop an eHealth intervention for parents of children with cancer. Initial testers rated eSCCIP favorably on questionnaires evaluating user experience and perceptions, and provided positive feedback and suggestions for additional improvement through qualitative interviews. Conclusions: Initial results suggest that eSCCIP may be an acceptable, feasible, and usable intervention for parents of children with cancer. eSCCIP is now ready for a larger pilot evaluation of usability, feasibility, and impact on target outcomes, including the reduction of anxiety and posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) and improvements in family functioning.

Pediatric Psychosocial Standards of Care in action: Research that bridges the gap from need to implementation

“…The Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (eSCCIP) was developed to meet the needs of POCC by offering a brief, evidence‐informed, eHealth psychosocial intervention specific to pediatric cancer 12 . Initial results suggest that the intervention is highly feasible and acceptable to POCC, and POCC have provided valuable feedback at various stages of intervention development to improve content, functionality, and recruitment/retention procedures 12,13 .…”

“…The Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (eSCCIP) was developed to meet the needs of POCC by offering a brief, evidence‐informed, eHealth psychosocial intervention specific to pediatric cancer 12 . Initial results suggest that the intervention is highly feasible and acceptable to POCC, and POCC have provided valuable feedback at various stages of intervention development to improve content, functionality, and recruitment/retention procedures 12,13 . In order to quickly establish an evidence base for the treatment and in an effort to shorten the timeline from intervention development to dissemination, the study team has prioritized novel study designs which allow for simultaneous collection of efficacy (eg, feasibility/acceptability) and preliminary implementation data.…”

“…This focus on stakeholder involvement continued within the current implementation projects. For example, Canter and colleagues solicited feedback from POCC throughout the development of eSCCIP to improve content, functionality, and recruitment/retention procedures, 12,13 and Long and her team included the perspectives of siblings, parents, and providers from the earliest stage of project development as part of a larger initiative of the Sibling Partnership for Advocacy, Research, and Care in Childhood Cancer (SPARCCC; https://sparcccpartnership.wixsite.com/sparccc) to improve the quality of sibling‐focused research and supportive care. Psihogios and colleagues focused on AYA adherence and sharing data with their oncology providers, however, future directions will include caregivers who are also intricately involved in managing cancer‐related medications (even among AYA) 15 .…”

The role of Connected Health technologies in supporting families affected by paediatric cancer: A systematic review

“…Three studies investigated the impact of CH on psychosocial needs. Interventions varied, with one online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)‐based intervention, 42 one online CBT‐based group intervention 47 and one smartphone application utilising ambient visualisation to reduce social isolation 45 . Wakefield et al‘s analysis of an online CBT intervention included measures of parental QOL, parental psychological functioning and family functioning 47 .…”

“…A main effect of time on fear of recurrence was noted, with fear of recurrence decreasing over time. One study utilised a single‐group design to examine the acceptability and feasibility of the eSCCIP online CBT‐based intervention 42 . Previous research qualitatively analysed reported social isolation of mothers of children with cancer, however the role of CH on social isolation was not examined 45 …”