The Family Talk Intervention in Pediatric Oncology: Ill Children’s Descriptions of Feasibility and Potential Effects

Abstract

Background: There are few scientifically evaluated psychosocial interventions in pediatric oncology, despite the needs for families. The family-based psychosocial intervention “The Family Talk Intervention” (FTI) has shown promising results in other care contexts and was therefore pilot-tested in pediatric oncology. In this study, we examined the experiences of participating in FTI from ill children's perspectives regarding feasibility and potential effects. Methods: This pilot study involved 26 families in pediatric oncology that had participated in FTI. The paper is focused on those ill children who answered surveys (n = 19) and/or participated in interviews (n = 11) when FTI had ended. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results: For most ill children, FTI came at the right time, included a reasonable number of meetings, and the length of the meetings was appropriate. The children felt listened to and understood by the interventionists and almost all children reported that FTI had helped them in some way. The children's perceptions indicated that FTI improved communication within the family and strengthened family relations. Children reported that the parents and their siblings seemed to feel better after participation and became more understanding. Discussion: The findings of this pilot study indicated that a full-scale study could be valuable from the ill children's perspective, as FTI was reported as feasible and had positive effects. The findings showed that FTI gave families an opportunity to open up communication about the illness, adjust their behaviors, and strengthen family relationships. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03650530.