Abstract
PurposeIt is important to support families in dealing with the distress that comes along with the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer. Therefore, we developed a playful tool that families can use at home to support their family functioning and safeguard their normal family life. We pilot tested this new tool called Mr.V and describe how families used and evaluated the tool, and how it could be further improved.MethodsMr.V is an interactive dispenser that looks like a spaceman and proposes family activities. These activities are suggested by family members themselves and dispensed by the machine at unexpected moments. Mr.V produced data on how it was used, and a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used to evaluate the experiences of families and the potential of this tool.ResultsTen families with a child with cancer between 5 and 9 years old (Mage = 6.7 years) who were in active treatment (mixed diagnoses) participated (n = 47; npatients = 10, nsiblings = 9, nparents = 16). All families used Mr.V for multiple days and were very satisfied with the tool regarding its acceptability, feasibility, and potential effectiveness. They also had suggestions on how the tool could be further improved.ConclusionMr.V is an acceptable and feasible tool that can be implemented by families independently at home, regardless of their level of need for support. Mr.V promoted family activities and therefore has the potential to support family functioning and normal family life at home. Future research should further investigate the effectiveness of this tool.
Highlights
In the Netherlands, about 650 children are diagnosed with cancer every year [1]
The focus of the tool is on the child and not the whole family, and relies on psycho-education. To address these gaps in family-centered and home-based supportive care for families with a child with cancer, we developed a playful tool that stimulates family activities
The families participated in the pilot study between June and December 2018
Summary
In the Netherlands, about 650 children are diagnosed with cancer every year [1]. This diagnosis and the often lengthy, demanding treatments have a significant impact on the child, as well as the whole family [2]. Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands diagnosis, and the burden of treatment and daily caretaking have an impact on family functioning [3,4,5,6]. Among the consequences of this impact on the child and the family is a loss of normality [7]. Family relationships are challenged, and social activities get hampered by the distress that comes along with the disease and its treatment. It is important to support families in dealing with this distress, and to safeguard their normal everyday family life
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