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A randomized controlled trial of a group intervention for siblings of children with cancer: C hanges in symptoms of anxiety in siblings and caregivers
Author(s) -
Barrera Maru,
Atenafu Eshetu G.,
Schulte Fiona,
Nathan Paul C.,
Hancock Kelly,
Saleh Amani
Publication year - 2018
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.4707
Subject(s) - psychosocial , anxiety , sibling , randomized controlled trial , intervention (counseling) , medicine , coping (psychology) , clinical psychology , panic , population , psychology , psychiatry , developmental psychology , environmental health
Objective This study assessed the effects of a group intervention—Siblings Coping Together (SibCT)—on siblings' and caregivers' anxiety symptoms compared to controls, and potential moderators. Methods Seventy healthy siblings of children on or off treatment (7‐16 y old, 41 males) participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 2 arms/groups: SibCT (n = 41) and an attention control (CG) (n = 34). Both groups had eight 2‐hour weekly sessions. EG followed SibCT's educational, social, and problem‐solving activities. CG had planned games and crafts. Siblings and caregivers self‐reported on anxiety symptoms at baseline, intervention end, and 3 months later. Multivariable mixed model analyses examined the intervention effect over time, and potential moderators (gender, on/off ill child's treatment). Results No main effects of group or time were found in sibling scores. A group × gender interaction ( P < .05) indicated that in the intervention group female siblings reported less total anxiety symptoms than male siblings, with no significant gender differences in the control group. Caregivers' total anxiety symptoms declined over time ( P < .02). A group × on/off treatment interaction in physiological/panic subscale ( P < .03) indicated that when ill child was on treatment, caregivers of siblings in SibCT reported less anxiety compared with caregivers of CG. Conclusions There was no clear SibCT intervention effect. SibCT may benefit female siblings, and caregivers whose ill child is on active treatment. Contextual factors (gender) seem to influence psychosocial intervention in this population.