Non-pharmacological Interventions for Pediatric Cancer Patients: A Comparative Review and Emerging Needs in India

ABSTRACT

Context Evidence-based research on psycho-oncology in last three decades lays emphasis upon the critical role of psychologicalservices for better illness adjustment, improved quality of life, reduced distress and cognitive problems among the rapidly increasingpediatric cancer population.Justification This review aims to summarize the evidence-based psychological interventions in childhood cancer over the two decadesand addresses the wide gap that existed between intervention studies worldwide and India, thus highlighting the need for research andappropriate services.Evidence acquisition We searched electronic databases such as MedLine, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Key searchterms were pediatric cancer, psycho-oncology, children with cancer + psychological intervention, or multimodal treatment, psychotherapy,cognitive training, behavioral, social skills+ feasibility study, pilot, randomized controlled trial, case study, systematic reviews.Results: 28 full papers published between 1996 to 2016, including survivors and under-treatment children below 18 years, werereviewed. Various types of key interventions were psychosocial, physical, cognitive behavioral, cognitive, music art therapy and playtherapy. Generally, intervention settings were either hospital or home, and were designed to promote psychological well-being.Psychological interventions were more in customised formats in these studies. A generic intervention module was not available forreplication.Conclusion: Development of culture-specific generic intervention module and using the same in randomized control studies with largereffect size are needed in India for larger coverage of patients.