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When a parent has cancer: a community based program for school personnel
Author(s) -
Fasciano Karen M.,
Berman Harriet,
Moore Cynthia,
DeFrino Beth,
Jameson Rachel,
Kennedy Vicki,
Golant Mitch
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.1148
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , psychology , anxiety , medical education , cancer , medicine , psychiatry
Little information has been published on interventions designed to help school personnel respond to challenges faced by a family dealing with parental cancer. The current study describes the development and piloting of a program that educated school professionals about cancer's impact on families, and effective ways of supporting families facing parental cancer. The program was implemented at four sites; 244 participants completed self‐report questionnaires before and after the program assessing knowledge and anxiety about helping families. t ‐tests indicated that after the program, participants rated themselves as significantly more knowledgeable and confident about helping families with parental cancer. These differences represented large effect sizes. Post hoc comparisons revealed that initial knowledge and knowledge change varied by profession, having had personal experience with cancer, and having worked with several families facing cancer. Participants reported learning about how to reach out and listen to families' needs. These results are extremely encouraging; plans for further program refinements and evaluation are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.