Art Therapy for Caregivers of Young Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplant for Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Art therapy may help relieve emotional distress in caregivers of young patients undergoing bone marrow transplant for cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying art therapy for caregivers of young patients undergoing bone marrow transplant for cancer.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: Test the effects of an art therapy intervention on emotional distress in caregivers of pediatric patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for cancer. Describe pro-social interactions of caregivers of pediatric patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for cancer. Describe the illness experience of caregivers and how it is impacted by the art therapy intervention. Describe the caregivers' current health-related quality of life and life meaning prior to pediatric patients initiation of bone marrow transplantation for cancer. Determine the effect size for calculating the sample needed for a randomized clinical trial. OUTLINE: Caregivers undergo art therapy over 60 minutes once a week for 6 weeks. Each session comprises developing trust through the expression of support, affirmation, and collaboration; creating intimacy through attunement; exploring affective states; integrative processing through the creation of an autobiographical narrative; and identifying opportunities for continued exploration and resources that support the client, should that exploration become necessary. Caregivers also complete a Meaning of Life Questionnaire and a Family Quality of Life Scale at baseline and at the end of week 6.

Official Title
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Art Therapy Interventions With Caregivers Supporting Pediatric Patients Who Are Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation for Cancer

Conditions
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Health Status Unknown, Psychosocial Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: psychosocial support for caregiver
* Other: questionnaire administration
* Procedure: quality-of-life assessment
* Procedure: stress management therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Family caregiver identified by the patient's physician as most involved in the patient care including, but not limited to, the following: Mother Father Grandmother Grandfather Aunt Uncle Older sibling One caregiver per pediatric patient No caregivers who are part of an institutional system and are temporarily fulfilling the custodial role of the patient (i.e., foster parents) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Able to speak and read English and/or Spanish No uncontrolled mental health and/or physical condition PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Not specified

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Art Therapy<br> | Other: psychosocial support for caregiver<br>* 6 weekly 60 minute sessions<br>Other: questionnaire administration<br>* Evaluated at baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy<br>Procedure: quality-of-life assessment<br>* Evaluated at baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy<br>Procedure: stress management therapy<br>* 6 weekly 60 minute sessions<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Emotional distress |  | Baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy | 
| Pro-social interactions |  | Baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy | 
| Illness experience of caregivers and how it is impacted by the art therapy intervention |  | Baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy | 
| Caregivers' current health-related quality of life and life meaning |  | Baseline, week 1 and week 6 of art therapy | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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psychosocial effects of cancer and its treatment, health status unknown