Parenting Support for Families with Cancer

Overseen By Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, No internet access

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial examines the acceptability and effect of a parenting support intervention for families coping with solid tumor that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic) or has come back (recurrent). Parenting support program may help to reduce common parenting concerns, improve communication between parents and children about cancer, and improve the overall psychological wellbeing of parents.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on parenting support rather than medication changes.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Parenting Support Intervention treatment for families with cancer?

Research shows that parents with cancer often face parenting concerns and psychological distress, and a novel parent support program has shown initial evidence of being helpful. Additionally, hospital-based parenting support is seen as crucial by both patients and health professionals, indicating the importance of such interventions in addressing parenting challenges in cancer care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Parenting Support Intervention safe for humans?

The studies on parenting support interventions for families dealing with cancer focus on feasibility and acceptability, but they do not report any safety concerns, suggesting that these interventions are generally safe for participants. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

How is the Parenting Support Intervention treatment different from other treatments for families with cancer?

The Parenting Support Intervention is unique because it focuses on helping parents with cancer maintain their parenting roles and support their families, rather than directly treating the cancer itself. It aims to strengthen family bonds, identify family strengths, and provide coping strategies, which is different from traditional cancer treatments that focus on medical aspects of the disease. ^{1 8 9 10 11}

Research Team

Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents over 18 with metastatic or recurrent solid tumors, who have at least one child aged 4-12 they're currently living and co-parenting with. They must be able to consent and complete self-reports (no severe cognitive deficits). Both parent and a spousal caregiver must speak English and have internet access.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients must have a spousal caregiver over the age of 18 who co-parents the child(ren) (i.e. share custody) and is willing and able to consent to participate

Patients must be at least 18 years old

Patients must have at least one dependent child between the ages of 4 and 12 and currently living with the parent

Exclusion Criteria

Patients and caregivers who do not read and speak English and who do not have access to the internet

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive education materials and attend 2 weekly videoconference intervention sessions over 45 minutes each. Caregivers attend 2 additional weekly intervention sessions.

2 weeks

4 videoconference sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychological symptoms, parenting concerns, and healthcare utilization after intervention

12 weeks

Follow-up at 6 and 12 weeks for Trial 1; 12 weeks for Trial 2

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Parenting Support Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a parenting support program aimed at reducing parenting concerns, improving communication about cancer between parents and children, and enhancing parental psychological wellbeing in families dealing with advanced cancer.

Participant Groups

Group I: Group I (education material, videoconference session) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Examine the acceptability of a parenting support intervention in 10 patients with an incurable cancer and their spousal caregivers (cohort A) and 10 patients with an advanced cancer diagnosis and their family caregivers (cohort B).

Group II: Group II (waitlist control) Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants receive standard of care.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Findings from Research

The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) was validated in a study of 209 Portuguese parents with cancer, confirming its effectiveness in identifying parenting concerns and psychological distress related to their condition.

The PCQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, making it a useful tool for identifying parents who may need psychological support, particularly those experiencing depressive symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire: A validation study with Portuguese parents with cancer. Tavares, R., Brandão, T., Matos, PM.[2021]

A novel parent support program for advanced cancer patients and their spouses showed promising feasibility, with a 61% consent rate and high attendance (90%) at all sessions, indicating strong engagement with the intervention.

Significant improvements were observed in parenting concerns and efficacy for both patients and spouses at six and twelve weeks post-intervention, suggesting that the program may effectively reduce psychological distress and enhance parenting skills in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive Care for Dual Caregivers who Care for Their Partner With Cancer and Their Young Children. Ann-Yi, S., Milbury, K., Jones, M., et al.[2023]

Patients with incurable end-stage cancer and their co-parents express a strong need for tailored parenting support during their health care journey, highlighting the complexity of parenting under such challenging circumstances.

Effective parenting support requires proactive involvement from health professionals and an interdisciplinary approach to address the unique challenges faced by these families, ensuring that their needs are met throughout the treatment process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Australian Hospital-Based Parenting Support for Adults with Incurable End-Stage Cancer: Parent Perspectives. Steiner, V., Joubert, L., Shlonsky, A., et al.[2021]

Healthcare professionals recognize that patients with incurable end-stage cancer face significant parenting-related distress, but their support needs are often overlooked in standard care practices.

Barriers such as lack of systematic screening for parenting status, insufficient resources, and psychosocial factors hinder the ability of healthcare providers to offer effective parenting support, highlighting the need for a more holistic approach to patient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hospital Parenting Support for Adults with Incurable End-Stage Cancer: Multidisciplinary Health Professional Perspectives. Steiner, V., Joubert, L., Shlonsky, A., et al.[2021]

The Enhancing Connections cancer parenting program, consisting of 5 sessions, was feasible and well-received by 16 parents diagnosed with non-metastatic cancer, showing significant improvements in parental anxiety, self-efficacy, skills, and parenting quality after the intervention.

This program demonstrates potential benefits for both parents and their school-age children, suggesting that structured support can enhance parenting competencies and positively impact child behavioral-emotional adjustment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot feasibility study of a group-delivered cancer parenting program: Enhancing Connections-Group. Lewis, FM., Zahlis, EH., Shands, ME., et al.[2022]

A 4-session intervention designed to improve communication between parents and children dealing with cancer was found to be feasible and acceptable, with a low attrition rate of 6% among the 66 participating parents.

Parents who received the intervention showed significant improvements in communication self-efficacy, reduced communication difficulties, and increased knowledge about age-appropriate communication, suggesting the intervention's effectiveness in enhancing parent-child communication during a challenging time.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of a support intervention designed to improve parents' communication with children dealing with parental cancer: a randomized pilot trial. Liénard, A., Lamal, S., Merckaert, I., et al.[2022]

A novel psycho-educational intervention is being developed to support parents with cancer and improve their parenting efficacy while reducing stress, targeting families with children aged 3-12 years.

The intervention, which includes audiovisual resources and support from a clinical psychologist, will be tested for feasibility and acceptability in a pilot study involving 20 parents, aiming to address the psychological needs of families affected by cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol for Enhancing Parenting In Cancer (EPIC): development and evaluation of a brief psycho-educational intervention to support parents with cancer who have young children. Stafford, L., Sinclair, M., Turner, J., et al.[2022]

A review identified ten parenting support interventions for parents with cancer, including four randomized controlled trials, highlighting a variety of therapeutic aims such as enhancing knowledge, emotion regulation, and communication with children.

Despite the existence of these interventions, there is a significant need for more research to assess their efficacy and to develop comprehensive support programs that address the diverse needs of parents and their children affected by cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to support parenting in patients with cancer and co-parents? From research to practice. Liénard, A., Lamal, S., Merckaert, I.[2023]

The Family Support Program effectively helped parents with incurable cancer understand their children's needs and reactions, leading to improved family communication and reduced conflicts during a difficult time.

Parents expressed a strong desire for the Family Support Program to be made available to all families facing terminal cancer, highlighting its importance in providing necessary information and coping strategies for both parents and children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' experiences of a Family Support Program when a parent has incurable cancer. Bugge, KE., Helseth, S., Darbyshire, P.[2022]

Parents with cancer face significant challenges in balancing their illness with parenting responsibilities, highlighting the need for tailored support systems.

Effective support strategies should include access to childcare, home healthcare, and transportation, as well as improved scheduling of medical appointments to accommodate family needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Balancing Illness and Parental Demands: Coping With Cancer While Raising Minor Children. Rashi, C., Wittman, T., Tsimicalis, A., et al.[2015]

A systematic review identified 22 different psychosocial interventions aimed at helping parents with cancer manage parenting distress, highlighting the importance of support for families during such challenging times.

While these interventions were generally beneficial and well-received by parents, only a few had undergone thorough evaluation, indicating a need for more rigorous studies to assess their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychosocial interventions targeting parenting distress among parents with cancer - A systematic review and narrative synthesis of available interventions. Romare Strandh, M., Hovén, E., Sörensdotter, R., et al.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Parenting Concerns Questionnaire: A validation study with Portuguese parents with cancer. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive Care for Dual Caregivers who Care for Their Partner With Cancer and Their Young Children. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Australian Hospital-Based Parenting Support for Adults with Incurable End-Stage Cancer: Parent Perspectives. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hospital Parenting Support for Adults with Incurable End-Stage Cancer: Multidisciplinary Health Professional Perspectives. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot feasibility study of a group-delivered cancer parenting program: Enhancing Connections-Group. [2022]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of a support intervention designed to improve parents' communication with children dealing with parental cancer: a randomized pilot trial. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study protocol for Enhancing Parenting In Cancer (EPIC): development and evaluation of a brief psycho-educational intervention to support parents with cancer who have young children. [2022]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How to support parenting in patients with cancer and co-parents? From research to practice. [2023]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents' experiences of a Family Support Program when a parent has incurable cancer. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Balancing Illness and Parental Demands: Coping With Cancer While Raising Minor Children. [2015]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychosocial interventions targeting parenting distress among parents with cancer - A systematic review and narrative synthesis of available interventions. [2023]