Preparing for Life and Academics for Young Childhood Cancer Survivors

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test and improve an online program for caregivers of young childhood cancer survivors called the Preparing for Life and Academics for Young Survivors program (PLAY). The PLAY program was created with a group of caregivers of young children with cancer and healthcare providers. Ultimately, investigators hope to see if the program can improve positive parenting behaviors, reduce caregiver stress, and help get young children ready for school. In the preliminary phase of this clinical trial, investigators are aiming to answer these questions:

1. Are caregivers of childhood cancer survivors willing to participate in the PLAY program and complete assessments before and after the program?
2. Do caregivers of childhood cancer survivors rate the PLAY program as easy to use?
3. Are caregivers of childhood cancer survivors satisfied with the PLAY program?
4. How can the PLAY program be improved in the future?
5. Does PLAY help improve how caregivers interact and read with their children or how they manage their own stress?

When the child is transitioning to maintenance phase therapies or is no longer actively in cancer treatment, caregivers will be invited to participate. If they agree to participate, they will complete surveys when they begin the study as well as a videotaped interaction task reading and playing with their child. Children will complete brief developmental testing at the beginning of the program.

Caregivers will then complete the PLAY Program, which will involve completing 7 weekly or bi-weekly online modules and meeting with a trained coach by videoconference for up to 10 one-hour sessions over three months. Sessions will focus on helping their child get ready for school and helping their family adjust and cope with stress.

Caregivers will repeat the surveys and videotaped interaction task again three months later, after the PLAY program is completed. They will also be invited to participate in an interview to learn about their experience in the program.

This study will happen over two phases. Participants in Phase I of this study will complete all parts of the study as described above. Participants in Phase II (beginning in winter 2025) will complete all parts of the study as described above and a six month follow up that will involve repeating the similar questionnaires and an additional videotaped interaction with their child. Teachers of children will also take part in Phase II with questionnaires at baseline and 3-months later, after participants have completed the PLAY program.

Conditions

• Childhood Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

PLAY Program

The PLAY Program is a web-based program created for caregivers of childhood cancer survivors. The program consists of seven modules with the following topics: 1) Introduction to the program 2) Self-Care 3) Relationships 4) Getting Ready for School 5) Talking, Reading, and Counting together 6) Social and Emotional Development 7) Review Module. The program is meant to be completed over approximately three months, and caregivers in the program will meet with a coach on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to discuss what they learned in the modules and how to practice it in their daily lives.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• Nationwide Children's Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-12

Primary Completion

2026-11-01

Completion

2027-01-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations