Parents with cancer - Feasibility and efficacy of an online group-delivered intervention to improve psychological well-being and parenting function

Being a parent of dependent children while treated for cancer can result in significant practical and emotional stress, and the risk of psychological distress is high This project aims to evaluate an online group-delivered intervention to reduce parenting concerns and psychological distress in parents with cancer.

In two studies we aim to 1) determine the feasibility, acceptability, safety and preliminary effect of the intervention from pre- to post-assessment and 3-month follow-up, and 2) establish the efficacy of the intervention in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with baseline, post-, 3- and 12-month follow-up assessments.

The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated by collecting data on recruitment, data collection, attrition, number of modules completed, tolerability of procedures to therapists and participants, and experiences of participation from pre- to post-. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used.

The efficacy of the intervention in reducing parenting concerns will be evaluated according to the “intention-to-treat” principle and analysed with linear mixed models in the RCT.

Despite the significant toll on parents with cancer and the potential negative consequences for their children and partners, available psychosocial support services are lacking.

By addressing the challenges faced by parents with cancer it is possible that further negative consequences for the individual, and their children, can be prevented.