The PAT2.0 Total score is a useful screening tool for family psychosocial risk in the pediatric oncology population.

Objective-Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and subclinical symptoms of acute stress (SAS) may be a useful framework for understanding the psychological reactions of mothers and fathers of children newly diagnosed with a pediatric malignancy.Patients and Methods-Mothers (N = 129) and fathers (N = 72) of 138 children newly diagnosed with cancer completed questionnaires assessing acute distress, anxiety, and family functioning. Demographic data were also gathered. Inclusion criteria were: a confirmed diagnosis of a pediatric malignancy in a child under the age of 18 years without prior chronic or life threatening illness and fluency in English or Spanish.Results-Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were used to examine predictors of SAS. Fifty-one percent (N = 66) of mothers and 40% (N = 29) of fathers met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ASD. The majority of the sample reported experiencing at least one SAS. General anxiety, but not family functioning, was a strong predictor of SAS in both mothers and fathers even after controlling for demographic characteristics.Conclusions-Immediately following their child's diagnosis of cancer, most mothers and fathers experience SAS, with a subsample meeting criteria for ASD. More anxious parents are at heightened risk of more intense reactions. The findings support the need for evidence-based psychosocial support at diagnosis and throughout treatment for families who are at risk for acute distress reactions.

Objective This cross sectional study examined the relationship between parental health literacy (HL), diabetes related numeracy, and parental perceived diabetes self-efficacy on glycemic control in a sample of young children with Type 1 DM. Methods Seventy primary caregivers of children (age 3–9 years) with Type 1 DM were recruited and surveyed at diabetes outpatient clinic visits. Patients’ medical histories were obtained by medical chart review. Results Parental diabetes related numeracy (r = −.52, p <.01), but not reading skills (r = −.25, p = NS) were inversely correlated with the child’s glycemic control (HbA1c). Parental perceived diabetes self-efficacy was also negatively correlated to their child’s HbA1c (r = −.47, p <.01). When numeracy and parental perceived diabetes self-efficacy were included as predictors of HbA1c, the model was significant (F = 12.93, p<.01) with both numeracy (β = − .46, p<.01) and parental perceived diabetes self-efficacy (β = − .36, p=.01) as significant predictors of HbA1c. Conclusions Data from this study highlight the importance of considering the role of parental numeracy, in health outcomes for children with Type 1 DM. Practice Implications: Practitioners should assess parental health literacy and consider intervention when needed.

Objective This study evaluated the rate of Hispanic children who have grandparents involved in caretaking and whether grandparents’ involvement has a negative impact on feeding practices, children's physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). Method One hundred and ninety-nine children and their parents were recruited at an elementary school. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding their children's grandparents’ involvement as caretakers and the feeding and physical activity practices of that grandparent when with the child. Children's height and weight were measured and zBMI scores were calculated. Results Forty-three percent of parents reported that there was a grandparent involved in their child's caretaking. Grandparents served a protective role on zBMI for youth of Hispanic descent, except for the Cuban subgroup. There was no relationship between grandparent involvement and feeding and physical activity behaviors. Conclusions In some cases grandparents may serve a protective function for childhood obesity. These results highlight the need for future research on grandparents and children's health, especially among Hispanic subgroups.