Abstract Book for 25th IPOS World Congress of Psycho-Oncology

Objectives: A cancer diagnosis in children impacts the whole family.This study aims to assess the course and determinants of distress incaregivers of a child with cancer.Methods: Assessments of parental distress were offered to Dutchspeaking caregivers every 6 months as part of a psycho-social monitoringprogram, using the Distress Thermometer for Parents (DT-P). Data wasavailable from august 2015 until august 2023 via the online KLIK PROMportal. Data was extracted for each patient from diagnosis up until 6 yearsafter diagnosis. Linear mixed models was used to assess parental distressover time since diagnoses within sex, and to assess determinants ofdistress.Results: Repeated distress assessments in 3892 parents (of 2377children, participation rate: 60%) resulted in 10772 assessments (4373 bymales, 6399 by females). Both sexes showed highest distress at diagnosis.Female distress declined after diagnosis, dropped below the clinical cut-off(4) after 2 years, and stabilized after 4 years. Male distress dropped belowthe clinical cut-off after 1 year, stabilized after 2 years and declined furtherafter 4 years. Relapse of the cancer, having a chronic illness as a caregiver,and experiencing parenting problems were the main determinants fordistress. Perceiving social support and living with a partner wereassociated with less distress.Conclusion and clinical implications: The trajectory of parental distressfrom diagnosis into survivorship differs by sex of the caregiver. The courseand determinants can be used to tailor interventions.