Comparing two types of perspective taking as strategies for detecting distress amongst parents of children with cancer: A randomised trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare two perspective taking strategies on (i) clinicians’ ability to accurately identify negative thoughts and feelings of parents of children with cancer, and (ii) clinician distress.MethodsSixty-three hematology-oncology professionals and nursing students watched a video featuring parents of children with cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the imagine-self group, they were instructed to imagine the feelings and life consequences which they would experience if they were in the parents’ position. In the imagine-other group, they were instructed to imagine the feelings and life consequences experienced by the parents. Parent-clinician agreement on thoughts/feelings was evaluated (standard stimulus paradigm). Clinician distress was also assessed.ResultsThe intervention was effective in manipulating perspective type. The groups did not significantly differ on parent-clinician agreement. Concentrating on personal feelings (imagine-self strategy) did predict lower agreement when controlling for trait empathy. Clinician distress was higher in the imagine-self group.ConclusionAlthough the link between perspective type and detection of distress remains unclear, the results suggest that clinicians who highly focus on their own feelings tend to be less accurate on parental distress and experience more distress themselves.Practice implicationsThis research could potentially improve communication training and burnout prevention.

Could we use parent report as a valid proxy of child report on anxiety, depression, and distress? A systematic investigation of father–mother–child triads in children successfully treated for leukemia

“…In the present study, parents were instructed to infer the experience of their child, that is, to take their perspective while completing analogous versions of the BYI and DRS. Additional instructions stated: “Answer each question the way you think your child has answered by taking the perspective of your child.” Previous research in oncology and other conditions has shown that such instructions prompted perspective‐taking responses on internalized symptoms . This was done in order to elicit a substitute judgment from the parent that mirrors the child's personal impression about their anxiety, depression, and distress.…”

“…Previous research in oncology and other conditions has shown that such instructions prompted perspective-taking responses on internalized symptoms. [43][44][45][46] This was done in order to elicit a substitute judgment from the parent that mirrors the child's personal impression about their anxiety, depression, and distress. This was preferred here since anxiety, depression, and distress are internalized symptoms, the best source of information lies with the survivor's own experience.…”

Developing professional caregivers’ empathy and emotional competencies through mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR): results of two proof-of-concept studies

“…A recent study suggests that concentrating too highly on personal emotions is associated with decreased ability to detect distress in persons affected by cancer. 49 Future studies should explore more systematically the mechanisms underlying the effects of emotional competencies on PT. Participants did not improve on EC.…”

Emotional State of Parents of Children Diagnosed with Cancer: Examining Religious and Meaning-Focused Coping

“…A child's oncological disease is a critical life event with the high burdening potential for most parents (Gouvela et al 2017). Each year in the United States of America, nearly 12,500 new oncological diseases are diagnosed among children and adolescents (National Cancer Institute 2013; Kazak and Noll 2015), which is the second-highest cause of death among children (Kazak and Noll 2015).…”