BackgroundWeChat is the main social platform in China, characterized by its versatility and ease of communication. This study aimed to explore the effect of a WeChat-platform-based education and care (WBEC) program on relieving anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma.MethodsIn total, 48 patients and 86 parents were enrolled in this randomized, controlled study and then assigned to the WBEC program (24 patients and 45 parents) and the usual education and care (UEC) program (22 patients and 41 parents) for 6 months as a 1:1 ratio.ResultsParents in the WBEC group had lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety (HADS-A) scores at M3 (7.8 ± 2.2 vs. 9.1 ± 2.5; p = 0.010) and M6 (7.7 ± 2.5 vs. 8.9 ± 2.4; p = 0.027) when compared to the UEC group, while anxiety rate was only decreased at M3 (43.2% vs. 63.4%; p = 0.049) in the WBEC group. Meanwhile, parental HADS for depression (HADS-D) scores were reduced at M3 (7.0 ± 2.0 vs. 8.0 ± 2.1; p = 0.047) and M6 (7.1 ± 1.9 vs. 8.0 ± 2.4; p = 0.045) in the WBEC group when compared with the UEC group; while depression rate remained the same. Parental Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores were slightly reduced among the WBEC group at M6 when compared with the UEC group [12.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 10.0–20.8] vs. 15.0 (IQR: 9.5–25.0; p = 0.077)], but not statistically significant.ConclusionWeChat-platform-based education and care is considered a feasible intervention to reduce anxiety and depression in parents of pediatric and adolescent patients with osteosarcoma, while also providing mild relief from PTSD.

Psychological disorders often occur among parents of children with cancer. The current study aimed to explore the longitudinal change of anxiety and depression and their related factors among parents of childhood and adolescence patients with osteosarcoma. A total of 56 childhood and adolescence patients with osteosarcoma who underwent tumor resection and corresponding 104 parents were enrolled. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A) and HADS-Depression (HADS-D) of parents were evaluated at baseline (the day of patients’ hospital discharge), 0.5 year, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. From baseline to the 3 rd year, HADS-A (from 8.3 ± 3.1 to 9.4 ± 3.1. P < .001), HADS-D score (from 7.7 ± 3.2 to 8.8 ± 2.9, P = .001), anxiety rate (from 45.2% to 60.6%, P = .038), depression rate (from 38.5% to 57.7%, P = .002) were elevated; meanwhile, anxiety severity ( P = .001) and depression severity ( P = .001) were also increased. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis presented that the role of mother, divorced/widowed marital status, declined family annual income, elevated Enneking stage, and amputation were independently correlated with elevated risk of parents’ baseline anxiety or depression (all P < .05). Additionally, declined family annual income, elevated Enneking stage, and amputation were independently correlated with increased risk of parents’ 3-year anxiety or depression (all P < .05). Anxiety and depression deteriorate with time in parents of childhood and adolescence patients with osteosarcoma, which are affected by parental role, marital status, family annual income, surgery type, and Enneking stage.