Feasibility and Acceptability of a Brief Psychoeducational Intervention for Parents of Children with Childhood Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that many parents desire more information about their child's learning and thinking abilities and possible school supports during their child's cancer treatment. The primary aim of this project was to evaluate whether a brief psychoeducational program to provide this information to parents of children with pediatric cancer was deemed feasible and acceptable. METHODS: During a brief telehealth psychoeducational intervention, parents received information about cognitive and psychological late effects of pediatric cancer, educational supports and resources, and neuropsychological evaluations. Parents completed questionnaires via REDCap, both before and after the intervention. Program evaluation included information about parent-reported satisfaction with the program and initial outcomes (e.g., parent-reported perceived increases in knowledge). RESULTS: The intervention was brief and completed with high fidelity. Twenty-three parents (including three parent dyads) completed the intervention, with high levels of program satisfaction and perceived increase in knowledge reported. DISCUSSION: This one-session psychoeducational telehealth intervention appeared feasible to complete and acceptable to parents. A future randomized controlled trial is needed to determine whether this intervention would be an important component of parental education during their child's cancer treatment and ultimately improve educational and developmental outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05268315.