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| Cross-cultural psychosocial risk screening in pediatric cancer | |
|---|---|
| Investigator (PI): | Kazak, Anne E |
| Performing Organization (PO): |
(Current): Nemours Children's Health System, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science / (302) 651-6884 |
| Supporting Agency (SA): | American Cancer Society |
| Initial Year: | 2013 |
| Final Year: | 2017 |
| Record Source/Award ID: | ACS/RSG-13-015-01 |
| OTHER ID: |
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| Funding: | Total Award Amount: $720,000 |
| Award Type: | Grant |
| Abstract: | Learning that your child has cancer is one of the most distressing events possible for a family. Shock, uncertainty, treatment demands, and disruption to family life are common experiences for most, if not all families, resulting in distress and making existing problems worse. Some psychosocial risk factors for initial and ongoing distress are associated with health disparities (e.g., socioeconomic status, family problems, beliefs). Although screening for psychosocial risk at diagnosis is recommended, this usually does not occur in pediatric cancer. The primary reason is that easy-to-use assessment approaches, that have been shown to be effective, are not available. In this study we will test a screening tool to assess psychosocial risk in pediatric cancer that can be used to assure screening of all families beginning treatment. The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is a brief, parent-report screener of psychosocial risk. In this study we will test English and Spanish versions of the PAT. A total of 540 families (141 Spanish speaking) of children newly diagnosed with cancer from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center will participate. Mothers and fathers will complete the PAT and other questionnaires at diagnosis, six months later, and at the end of cancer treatment. The study will use an online data collection site supported by the NIH (www.promis.org). Data from the PAT will be used statistically to determine specific areas of risk (e.g., parent distress, child problems, financial difficulties, beliefs about cancer and treatment) for English- and Spanish-speaking families. PAT is scored such that three levels of risk (Universal, Targeted, Clinical) are identified and used in recommending psychosocial assistance. We will also be able to examine changes over time in risk factors, for the English- and Spanish-speaking families. Health care professionals who currently use the PAT (n=15) will be interviewed in an exploratory qualitative aim to learn more about how screening can advance cancer care and help to reduce health disparities. At the completion of this study, the PAT will be available, in English and Spanish, as a validated brief parent-report screener of psychosocial risk. It can be used to assure that all families are assessed and provided with access to psychosocial care appropriate to their needs. The PAT will contribute to the reduction of health disparities in pediatric cancer because clinicians will be able to quickly evaluate psychosocial risk status at diagnosis, or at other points in treatment, identify potential barriers to engagement in treatment, and facilitate access to evidence-based psychosocial care across treatment. This way, the short- and long-term psychosocial burden of cancer can be reduced for all members of the family, quality of life improved, and the overall societal impact of cancer reduced by early identification (and subsequent treatment) or problems that may otherwise impede care and well-being. |
| MeSH Terms: |
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| Country: | United States |
| State: | Delaware |
| Zip Code: | 19803 |
| UI: | 20163103 |
| Project Status: | Completed |