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Cited by 20Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of LifeCancer survivorship and careAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia research

Parental adjustment following their child’s completion of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment

McCarthy, Maria C., Marks, India R., Mulraney, Melissa, Downie, Peter, Matson, Alice, De Luca, Cinzia R.·2021·Pediatric Blood & Cancer
DOI 10.1002/pbc.29302
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Few studies haveexamined parent and family adaptation in the early period following the end of childhood cancer treatment. We examined parent adjustment at the end of their child's treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: Parents of childhood cancer survivors (CCS), who were 3 months post-ALL treatment, and parents of typically developing children completed measures of psychological and family functioning. Parents of CCS also completed distress and posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) questionnaires related to their child's cancer experience. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-nine parents were recruited: 77 parents of CCS and 52 comparison parents. Overall mean psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and family functioning were within normal limits for both groups. Parents of CCS endorsed higher scores for stress, depression, and family problems; however, mean scores for emotional distress were low for both groups, in particular the comparison group. Parents of CCS endorsed low rates of PTSS. Fifty-one percent of parents of CCS scored above the distress thermometer (DT-P) clinical cutoff (>4), with items elevated across all six DT-P domains. However, most parents did not indicate a wish to speak to a health professional about their symptoms. CONCLUSION: Specialist psychosocial intervention may be indicated for only a subset of parents at the end of treatment. As per psychosocial standards of care, effective screening at this timepoint is warranted. Further examination of appropriate timing of psychosocial information and support services that are tailored to parents' circumstances is needed. eHealth approaches may be appropriate.

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  • Many participating parents actually reported good HRQL and low depression/anxiety at baseline and may have had a low need for further help, limiting the relative improvement that could be achieved.

    “Aligning with parents in other studies [23,72,73,74], many of our participating parents actually reported good HRQL and low depression/anxiety at baseline (Q1) and may have had a low need for further help, limiting the relative improvement that could be achieved.”

    From Providing psychological support to parents of childhood cancer survivors: ‘cascade’ intervention trial results and lessons for the future (2021) · cites this paper as [72]

  • Psychosocial and peer-supports accessed by parents outside of the program might have influenced the impact of Cascade, with some parents possibly receiving pre-existing supports from community-based psychologists or through their general practitioner.

    “Psychosocial and peer-supports accessed by parents outside of the program might have influenced the impact of Cascade, with some parents possibly receiving pre-existing supports from community-based psychologists or through their general practitioner [72].”

    From Providing psychological support to parents of childhood cancer survivors: ‘cascade’ intervention trial results and lessons for the future (2021) · cites this paper as [72]

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Authors
McCarthy, M. C., Marks, I. R., Mulraney, M., Downie, P., Matson, A., & De Luca, C. R.
Affiliations
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute (AU)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Children's Cancer Centre The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Victoria Australia
Corresponding author
McCarthy, Maria C.
ORCID
Venue
Pediatric Blood & Cancer
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-08-19
Volume
68
Issue
11
Pages
e29302-e29302
ISSN
  • 1545-5009 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-5017
DOI
10.1002/pbc.29302
OpenAlex
W3194273150
Cited by
20
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Pediatric Blood & Cancer (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia research
Keywords
parental adjustment, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, childhood cancer survivors, post-treatment period, parental distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms, family functioning, anxiety and depression, psychosocial screening, psychosocial interventions, e-health
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Child, Humans, Parents, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

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