To compare the efficacy of a high-intensity psychosocial intervention with standardized usual care in countering psychosocial complexity among child–parent units in a pediatric oncology setting.
Methods:
Two hundred pediatric oncology patients and their parents were recruited from Italian hospitals. A total of 81 child–parent units were assigned to the high-intensity psychosocial intervention and 119 child–parent units to standardized usual care. Psychosocial factors were assessed before and 1 year after intervention to measure efficacy.
Results:
More improvements over time were observed in the high-intensity intervention group of child–parent units compared to the standard intervention group.
Conclusion:
An intensive, structured, and tailored high-intensity intervention positively affects the psychosocial factors of child–parent units. Patients and families should have access to intensive psychosocial support throughout the cancer trajectory.
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