The influence of WeChat education and care program on anxiety, depression, insomnia, and general state of health in parents of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

PURPOSE: WeChat-based education and care program serves as a promising nursing method for relieving mental stress in parents of pediatric patients. This study purposed to explore the influence of the WeChat education and care program (WECP) on mental health, insomnia, and general state of health in parents of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. METHODS: Totally, 146 parents of 73 primary pediatric ALL patients were randomized into the WECP group (74 parents of 37 patients) and standard care (SC) group (72 parents of 36 patients) to receive a 6-month corresponding intervention. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), Athens insomnia scale (AIS), and 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) were assessed in parents of patients. RESULTS: SAS scores at the third month (M3) (P = 0.041) and M6 (P = 0.032) were reduced in WECP group versus SC group. SAS-defined anxiety rate at M6 (P = 0.035) was declined in WECP group versus SC group. SDS score at M6 was descended in WECP group versus SC group (P = 0.024). However, there was no discrepancy in SDS-defined depression rate at any time point between groups (all P > 0.05). AIS scores at M1 (P = 0.015) and M6 (P = 0.021), as well as GHQ-12 scores at M3 (P = 0.007) and M6 (P = 0.001) were decreased in WECP group versus SC group. By subgroup analyses, WECP exhibited good effects at M6 in mothers, but not in fathers. CONCLUSION: WECP is a feasible and efficacy intervention to improve mental stress and health status among parents of pediatric ALL patients, especially in mothers.

Cognitive-behavioral stress management relieves anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients: a randomized, controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) is an effective psychological intervention to relieve psychological and symptomatic distress. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CBSM in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. METHODS: Totally, 56 pediatric AML patients and 100 parents were randomized into the CBSM group (28 patients and 49 parents) and the normal control (NC) group (28 patients and 51 parents) to receive corresponding interventions for 10 weeks. The questionnaire scores were assessed at month M0, M1, M3, and M6. RESULTS: In parents of pediatric AML patients, self-rating anxiety scale score at M1 (p = 0.034), M3 (p = 0.010), and M6 (p = 0.003), as well as anxiety at M3 (p = 0.036) and M6 (p = 0.012) were decreased in the CBSM group versus the NC group. Self-rating depression scale score at M3 (p = 0.022) and M6 (p = 0.002), as well as depression at M6 (p = 0.019) were declined in the CBSM group versus the NC group. Symptom checklist-90 (a psychotic status questionnaire) score at M3 (p = 0.031) and M6 (p = 0.019) were declined in the CBSM group versus the NC group. Regarding PTSD, the impact of the events scale-revised score at M3 (p = 0.044) and M6 (p = 0.010) were decreased in the CBSM group versus the NC group. By subgroup analyses CBSM (versus NC) improved all outcomes in parents with anxiety at M0 and depression at M0 (all p < 0.050), but could not affect the outcomes in parents without anxiety or depression at M0 (all p > 0.050). CONCLUSION: CBSM reduces anxiety, depression, and PTSD in parents of pediatric AML patients.