Feasibility Study on the Effect of Complementary Methods as Supportive Interventions for Parents of Children With Cancer

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle relaxation are effective as stress reducing techniques in parents of hospitalized children with cancer.

Detailed Description
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Having a children with cancer can be a source of stress for parents during hospitalization. The stress experienced by the parents can negatively influence their functionality, daily activities, psychological state and also their physical condition. The studies in the literature have mainly focused on the child rather than the parent, and studies specifically for guided imagery are scarce. Since the parents are often neglected by the healthcare professionals during the stress evoking period of hospitalization, this study will test the effectiveness of complementary methods in improving the psychological state of the parents.

Official Title
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Randomized Control Trial for the Effect of Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in Reducing Anxiety for Parents of Hospitalized Children With Cancer

Conditions
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Anxiety, Stress, Mood, Coping

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: willingness to participate having a child with childhood cancer been hospitalized for 4 weeks have a child (0-18) of age with childhood cancer able to speak and write Greek fluently no previous experience with CAM techniques Exclusion Criteria: receiving drug therapy for stress using another CAM technique during the study parents of children receiving palliative care
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
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: CAM group<br>Subjects receiving the interventions and standard psychological care | Behavioral: Guided Imagery and Progressive Muscle Relaxation<br>* Daily implementation of the guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation techniques additionally to weekly supervised sessions.<br>|
| No Intervention: No-CAM group<br>Parents receiving only standard psychological care | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in the number of Participants with anxiety | Participants response to the complementary and alternative intervention will be measured through their scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale | 1 week, 2 week, 3 week , 4 week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in the number of Participants with mood changes | Participants response to the complementary and alternative interventions will be measured through their scores on the POMS scale | 1 week, 2 week, 3 week , 4 week | 
| stress level with Biodots |  | 1 week, 2 week, 3 week, 4 week | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Parent, childhood cancer, Complementary and Alternative