Motivation Program for Children With Cancer
Condition: Childhood Cancer
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of the technology-based motivation program
      implemented with children with cancer diagnosis and their primary caregivers.

      Methods: This randomized controlled trial was completed with 31 children and 31 primary
      caregivers between the ages of 9 and18, who were being treated for cancer. A 10-week
      "Technology Based Motivation Program" was given to the intervention group. "State/ Trait
      Anxiety Inventory for Children", "Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory", "Paediatric Cancer
      Coping Scale", "State and Trait Anxiety Inventory," and "Process Evaluation Forms" were
      administered. Chi-square test, Fisher-Exact test, Independent Sample-t test, Man-Whitney U
      test, Wilcoxon test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used for data
      analysis.
    

Detailed description: 
      Design The study was conducted in two hospitals at Leukemia Polyclinic, Paediatric
      Haematology and Oncology Polyclinic, and Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Service from
      September 2019 to August 2020.

      Setting and Samples In determining the research population, hospital registry information was
      used, and 119 children followed up with a diagnosis of cancer formed the research population.
      The sample of the research consisted of 44 children (leukaemia n = 33, solid tumour n = 11)
      and their primary caregivers meeting the inclusion criteria.

      Randomization and blinding A stratified randomization method was used in the research. 44
      children (leukaemia and solid tumour) who met the inclusion criteria were grouped according
      to gender (male and female) and age (9-13 years-14-18 years) and eight layers were obtained.
      Among the identified strata, intervention and control groups were randomized by an
      independent statistician using the website www.randomizer.org, 22 children were assigned to
      the intervention, and 22 to the control group. Five children from the intervention group and
      five children from the control group (unreachable (n=3), ex (n=1), refusal (n=4),
      Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) performed (n=1), intensive care unit admission
      (n=1)) could not be included in the research for various reasons and 34 children were
      included in the research. The purpose and content of the research were explained without
      informing the children and their primary caregivers that they were in the intervention or
      control group.

      At the end of the research, the power analysis performed by using the mean scores of State
      Anxiety Inventory for Children with G * Power 3.0.10 program yielded a total of at least 28
      samples that were found to be sufficient with 90% power and 5% margin of error (n1 = 14; n2 =
      14).

      Theoretical underpinnings The use of models is important in establishing the theoretical
      framework of research. In this research, the Transactional Stress and Coping Model of Lazarus
      and Folkman, which is the most widely used model in studies examining the coping and anxiety
      levels of children with cancer diagnosis, was used. The practices in the motivation program
      were created for the coping strategies of "seeking social support, self-control, positive
      evaluation and accepting responsibility" in the model.

      Interventions The research consists of four stages. (1) Constructing training modules, (2)
      Creating a website, (3) Conducting preliminary intervention, and (4) Implementing the
      training modules with the children and primary caregivers in the intervention group.

      Constructing training modules Four training modules for children and three training modules
      for primary caregivers were created by the researchers in line with the literature Content
      was added to the website after it was approved by 6 experts.

      Creating the website The website was designed by a professional web design firm. The website
      can be accessed by computer, tablet and phone. There is an administrator and user panel on
      the website. Children and primary caregivers logged on the website with different passwords
      through the user panel and accessed the modules specially prepared for them.

      Conducting preliminary intervention The preliminary intervention of the technology-based
      program was conducted with five children aged 9-18 years who were followed up with a
      diagnosis of leukaemia, and with their primary caregivers. As the child and primary
      caregivers found the program applicable as a result of the preliminary intervention, no
      change was made and it was included in the sample.

      Using the training modules with children and primary caregivers in the intervention group The
      website and four training modules were used with the children in the intervention group. Nine
      coaching interviews with each child (once a week) were conducted over WhatsApp. The children
      were encouraged to do progressive relaxation and breathing exercises at least twice a week,
      and eight therapeutic stories (once a week) were sent to the child's phone in the form of
      animation.

      Three training modules were used with the primary caregivers, and coaching interviews were
      conducted on WhatsApp twice during the program. Primary caregivers practiced progressive
      relaxation and breathing exercises at least twice a week. In addition, eight motivation
      messages were sent to the child and primary caregiver, and 24/7 consultancy was provided.

      Control Group The routine practices of the children in the control group and their primary
      caregivers at the hospital continued. In addition, forms other than process evaluation were
      given to the child and their primary caregivers at the beginning and end of the program.

      Data gathering After the children and primary caregivers who participated in the research
      were informed about the research in an empty room or in the room where they were treated
      during the polyclinic controls, data collection forms were given, the children and primary
      caregivers in the intervention group were subscribed to the website, and the exercises were
      explained in practice. It took approximately 60 minutes for the participants to fill out the
      forms and learn about the program. At the end of the research, the data collection forms
      (excluding the descriptive data form) were collected through WhatsApp messages.

      Data collection tools Child and Parent Descriptive Characteristics Form, Spielberger
      State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State/ Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Paediatric Cancer
      Coping Scale, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Process Evaluation Forms were used to
      collect the data.

      Ethical considerations Permission for the research was obtained from the University Ethics
      Committee and Hospitals. Informed written consent was obtained from the children and their
      primary caregivers, who agreed to participate in the research, after written and verbal
      explanations were given to the patients to participate in the research. At the end of the
      study, all interventions were also performed with the control group.
    

Intervention name(s): Technology Based Motivation Program
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): A 10-week "Technology Based Motivation Program" was given to the intervention group. The website and four training modules were used with the children in the intervention group. Nine coaching interviews with each child (once a week) were conducted over WhatsApp. The children were encouraged to do progressive relaxation and breathing exercises at least twice a week, and eight therapeutic stories (once a week) were sent to the child's phone in the form of animation.
Three training modules were used with the primary caregivers, and coaching interviews were conducted on WhatsApp twice during the program. Primary caregivers practiced progressive relaxation and breathing exercises at least twice a week. In addition, eight motivation messages were sent to the child and primary caregiver, and 24/7 consultancy was provided.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A randomized controlled trial
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Cancer; Child; Motivation; Program; Parent; Psychosocial; Technology