Impact of Family-Centered Empowerment on Caregivers of Children with Cancer: a Quasi-Experimental Study Protocol

Launched by XIAOWAN LI · Jan 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is designed to explore how a special program that empowers families can help caregivers of children with cancer. The goal is to see if this health education program improves caregivers' readiness and ability to care for their child during treatment. Participants will fill out questionnaires at different times: three days before the child’s hospital admission, during their stay, and three days before discharge. Importantly, this study does not involve any changes to the child's cancer treatment or chemotherapy.

To be eligible for this trial, children must be between 0 and 18 years old and have a diagnosis of cancer. Their primary caregiver must be at least 18 years old, a family member, and the one who has cared for the child the longest. Caregivers should also be able to read and communicate in Chinese and have no significant mental health issues. It’s important to note that children who switch hospitals or stop their treatment during the study cannot participate. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to provide valuable insights into supporting families as they navigate cancer care.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria: (1) children aged 0-18 years old, (2) those clinically diagnosed with malignant neoplasms, and (3) first-time visitors to our hospital.
• • Primary caregiver inclusion criteria: the caregiver is enrolled along with the child, (1) was ≥18 years of age; (2) was a member of the child's immediate family; (3) had cared for the child for the longest period among multiple caregivers; (4) had basic communication and reading skills and was proficient in Chinese; and (5) had no previous or current history of psychiatric illness or consciousness-related disorders.
• • Exclusion Criteria: (1)Children who abandon treatment or are transferred to a hospital while the study is in progress.