The effects of psychoeducational interventions on caregivers of children with cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Open accessAbstract
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the best available evidence concerning the effects of psychoeducational interventions (PEIs) on the psychosocial and coping outcomes for caregivers of pediatric oncology patients. A literature search was performed using 11 databases, from inception to June 2017. Keywords such as pediatric, caregiver, parents, cancer, and intervention were used. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Studies with full text available online in English and those conducted of caregivers of children diagnosed with any form of cancer were included. Eleven RCTs were included in the analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed that PEIs have small to large effects on three outcomes, including post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs), mood, and problem-solving skills. However, the outcomes from PEI were not superior to the usual standard of care for anxiety, depression, and social support. Our meta-analysis provided moderate evidence that PEI enhances psychological and coping outcomes. Because coping affects both physical and psychological health, health care professionals could consider including coping as a core component in PEI delivered to caregivers of children with cancer.
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Psychoeducational interventions yield improvements in psychological well-being and coping outcomes among family caregivers of children with cancer.
“findings from a meta-analysis study have indicated that psychoeducational interventions yield improvements in psychological well-being and coping outcomes among family caregivers of children with cancer.”
From Support based on psychoeducation intervention to address quality of life and care burden among caregivers of patients with cancer: a randomized controlled trial (2025) · cites this paper as Tang et al., 2020
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“relaciones de soporte emocional con otros, reconsiderar creencias aprendidas que ya no son adaptativas y resignificar la experiencia como cuidador(39).”
BackgroundYe, Z., Zhang, Y., Dai, L., Li, W., & Wang, F. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1835671
- Authors
- Tang, W. P., Chan, C. W., Leung, D. Y., & Chan, D. N.
- Affiliations
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Corresponding author
- Tang, Winnie PY
- Venue
- Journal of Child Health Care
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-01-17
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 123-142
- ISSN
- 1367-4935 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2889
- OpenAlex
- W2908541651
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Journal of Child Health Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PolyU Institutional Research Archive (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Keywords
- psychoeducational intervention, caregivers, childhood cancer, psychosocial outcomes, coping, posttraumatic stress symptoms, mood, problem-solving skills, anxiety, depression, social support, parents of children with cancer
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Child, Humans, Neoplasms, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Caregivers
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