A pilot trial of a stress management intervention for primary caregivers of children newly diagnosed with cancer: preliminary evidence that perceived social support moderates the psychosocial benefit of intervention.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To examine the acceptability and feasibility of a stress management intervention for caregivers of children recently diagnosed with cancer. (2) To explore whether caregivers with lower baseline perceived social support derive greater benefit from the intervention than those with higher perceived support. METHODS: 45 primary caregivers were randomly assigned to intervention or standard care. Of these, 37 completed measures of social support, depression, anxiety, and perceived stress at both pre-intervention (T1; mean = 24 days post-diagnosis) and post-intervention time points (T2; mean = 165 days post-diagnosis). RESULTS: Enrollment, retention, and satisfaction data support feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. There was no overall significant impact of participation in the intervention on levels of distress at T2. However, T1 social support moderated intervention response, with caregivers who perceived lower T1 support showing greater psychological benefit from the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Primary caregivers with lower levels of perceived social support may benefit from preemptive stress management intervention.

Preliminary evidence for the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between stress and asthma exacerbations in children, suggesting that interventions to reduce stress may improve both psychosocial quality of life and disease course. Here, we examine the feasibility of a stress management intervention for 7- to 12-year-olds with asthma. METHODS: Two trials were conducted. Cohort 1 (n = 11) was recruited from the community and attended intervention sessions at an urban university. Cohort 2 (n = 7) was school based and recruited from an African American charter school. Six individual intervention sessions focused on psychoeducation about asthma, stress, and emotions; problem-solving and coping skills training; and relaxation training paired with physiological feedback. Pre- and post-intervention stress, mood, and lung function data were collected. Satisfaction surveys were administered after intervention completion. RESULTS: The intervention was rated as highly acceptable by participating families. Feasibility was much stronger for the school-based than the university-based recruitment mechanism. Initial efficacy data suggest that both cohorts showed pre- to post-intervention improvements in lung function, perceived stress, and depressed mood. CONCLUSION: Findings provide evidence for the feasibility of offering asthma-related stress management training in a school setting. Initial findings offer support for future, large-scale efficacy studies.

Brief report: A pilot study of a web-based resource for families of children with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Web-based resource for families of children newly diagnosed with cancer and examine the viability of this modality of providing support. METHODS: Twenty-one children (8-17 years) newly diagnosed with cancer and their families were enrolled. Quantitative data on Web site utilization and frequency of accessing specific sections and qualitative data on participant satisfaction are reported. RESULTS: Twenty-one families comprising 51 participants (children with cancer, parents, and siblings) had access to the Web site. Utilization was lower than anticipated, with members of only nine families accessing the site. The majority of these hits were on peer discussion groups. CONCLUSION: Further research is warranted to examine whether the Internet is a viable method of delivering support to families affected by childhood cancer. The current pattern of results suggests that the timing of its introduction and the method used to train families may affect utilization.