Multifaceted Support Interventions for Siblings of Children With Cancer

Abstract

Background When a child is given a diagnosis of cancer, the impact reverberates through the family unit. Siblings, in particular, experience an accumulation of distress. Siblings of children with cancer can experience both short- and long-term difficulties in psychosocial and physical functioning, and professional bodies have called for interventions targeted at their needs. Objective The aim of this study was to describe outcomes, core components, and general characteristics of effective interventions intended to support sibling well-being and psychosocial health in pediatric oncology. Methods MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched in September 2019 and July 2020. Studies were included if they focused on interventions for siblings or family in pediatric cancer, had quantitative data to describe the effect or impact of the intervention, and were published in English. Included studies underwent quality appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis. Results Twenty articles fit inclusion criteria. Most interventions focused on 6- to 18-year-old siblings within a group setting. Most were theory based. Group format with multiple sessions was the most common approach. The most frequently assessed outcomes were depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and health-related quality of life. Conclusions Understanding outcomes, core components, and characteristics of effective interventions is important to translate sibling-support interventions into standard practice. Such considerations are important in delivering equitable family-centered care to siblings of children with cancer. Implications for Practice As institutions create mechanisms to support siblings, it may be important to target high-risk siblings initially, partner with community resources, attend to underrecognized populations of siblings, and more fully incorporate family into sibling support.

Repercusiones emocionales y psicosociales en pacientes oncológicos en etapa infanto-juvenil

“…De la misma manera, diversos autores (29)(30)(31)(32)(33), concluyen que el impacto emocional y psicosocial no es solo percibido en los pacientes con cáncer, sino que también se ve en sus familias. Para los padres, tratar de asimilar la enfermedad de su hijo representa un severo conflicto, así como también en los hermanos.…”

“…De todos los tipos la leucemia es la más frecuente, afectado al menos 16 por cada 100.000 habitantes (1). Solamente en Latinoamérica y el Caribe se han registrado al menos 29.000 casos de cáncer en etapa infantil y juvenil, comprendido entre los 0 -19 años de edad (2). Actualmente, los avances de la ciencia han permitido proveer una mayor tasa de supervivencia en la mayor parte de cánceres existentes, sobre todo en la leucemia (3).…”

Hospital Support for Siblings of Children With Illness in Japan

“…Siblings' developmental stages (such as preschool-age, school-age, and adolescence or young adulthood) are critical for planning and implementing support ( 40 ). Siblings are affected by their brother or sister's type of disease and condition, and the hospital-based approach also has a characteristic influence ( 9 ).…”

Inconsistent, uncoordinated, and reactive: The current state of sibling psychosocial care

“…Four elements are incorporated, including: (a) psychoeducation about siblings , consisting of advice offered to parents on anticipating and meeting siblings’ needs 13 ; (b) routine, universal sibling psychosocial screening for current and anticipated difficulties conducted multiple times along the cancer trajectory 3,15,16 using sibling‐specific instruments (e.g., the Sibling Cancer Needs Instrument 10 or the revised Psychosocial Assessment Tool Sibling Modules 17 ); (c) identifying siblings who could benefit from comprehensive psychosocial assessment ; and (d) sibling psychosocial supports appropriately matched to the sibling's individual level of psychosocial need as determined through screening/assessment 15,16,18 . Despite a lack of empirically validated sibling interventions, 19,20 preliminary evidence suggests that support groups, 21 developmentally appropriate medical education, 22 and oncology camps 23 may reduce siblings’ emotional distress and improve psychological well‐being.…”

“…and (d) sibling psychosocial supports appropriately matched to the sibling's individual level of psychosocial need as determined through screening/assessment. 15,16,18 Despite a lack of empirically validated sibling interventions, 19,20 preliminary evidence suggests that support groups, 21 developmentally appropriate medical education, 22 and oncology camps 23 may reduce siblings' emotional distress and improve psychological well-being.…”