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A family‐based intervention to promote adjustment in siblings of children with cancer: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Besani Chiara,
McCusker Chris,
Higgins Aiveen,
McCarthy Anthony
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.4756
Subject(s) - table (database) , intervention (counseling) , flow chart , chart , sample (material) , psychology , computer science , information retrieval , statistics , data mining , mathematics , engineering , psychiatry , chemistry , chromatography , engineering drawing
A recent systematic review suggested that while positive outcomes are evident for some siblings of children with cancer (eg, related to post‐traumatic growth), a significant subset experience negative emotional reactions, isolation, school difficulties, and reduced quality of life. Proposed new standards of care in paediatric oncology emphasise extending psychosocial care to family members of the child with cancer. The literature indicates that family functioning is a significant predictor of outcomes for the chronically ill child, suggesting that family focused interventions are warranted. Few studies of such interventions exist. Historically, Barrera's sibling only group intervention, based on cognitive‐behavioural principles, showed promise in reducing emotional distress. Kazak's surviving cancer competently intervention program, a cognitive‐behavioural and family therapy intervention originally designed for adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and their families, found improvements in terms of level of anxiety and post‐traumatic stress reactions. Lobato's integrated psychoeducational sibling‐parent group found improvements in both knowledge and feelings of “connectedness.” The present family‐ focused intervention was informed by the updated evidence base for effective psychosocial interventions across different chronic illnesses. Research suggests that interventions that include problem solving therapy, narrative therapy, and psycho‐education are effective