A Pilot Study of a Family Management Program for Parents of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Objectives

The aim of this completed pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a family management program (FMP) for parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Data Sources

A convenience sample of 11 parents of preschool-aged children with ALL were recruited from an ambulatory chemotherapy-care clinic at a tertiary hospital in Thailand. Participants received three FMP sessions over 3 weeks. The FMP is based on two established family programs (ie, FMP-style framework and building on family strengths) and reviewed literature. The following measures were used to evaluate parents’ responses at baseline, postintervention, and follow-up: Family Management Measure, Beach-Center Family Quality-of-Life Scale, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Conclusion

The study results provide promising evidence that the FMP is feasible and improves family management and quality of life for parents of enrolled children with ALL.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Educating pediatric oncology nurses and other healthcare professionals to replicate the FMP may help to provide better family management, and child quality of life support to future parents and other family members of young children diagnosed with ALL. This support should focus on educating parents about the potential effects of caring for a child with ALL on the family and fostering positive relationships within the family and offering guidance on effective family communications and decision-making processes.