Screening for psychosocial risk in pediatric cancer

Abstract

Major professional organizations have called for psychosocial risk screening to identify specific psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families and facilitate the delivery of appropriate evidence-based care to address these concerns. However, systematic screening of risk factors at diagnosis is rare in pediatric oncology practice. Subsequent to a brief summary of psychosocial risks in pediatric cancer and the rationale for screening, this review identified three screening models and two screening approaches (Distress Thermometer [DT], Psychosocial Assessment Tool [PAT]), among many more papers calling for screening. Implications of broadly implemented screening for all patients across treatment settings are discussed.

Patterns of Family Management of Childhood Chronic Conditions and Their Relationship to Child and Family Functioning

“…Our analysis also provides evidence of the interplay of family management and demographic variables in shaping family response to a child’s chronic condition. Like others (e.g., Brown et al, 2008; Cadman et al, 1991; Drotar & Bonner, 2009; Kazak et al, 2012), single parent families and those with lower incomes had significantly more difficulty adapting to a child’s illness. On the other hand, the four patterns of family management did not differ significantly on child age or sex and parental age, education, or race, indicating that the four patterns of family management were diverse with regard to these demographic variables.…”

“…Determining which families and children are at risk for management difficulties and poor functioning is a continuing issue for researchers and clinicians. Studies and reviews of the relationship between demographic variables and family and child outcomes also present a mixed picture, although there is considerable evidence that income and family structure (single versus two-parent family) influence outcomes, with low-income and single parent families evidencing poorer adaptation (Brown et al, 2008; Cadman, Rosenbaum, Boyle, & Offord, 1991; Drotar & Bonner, 2009; Kazak et al, 2012). One review addressing the relationship between demographic variables and treatment adherence in families of children with asthma reported that minority status, in addition to socioeconomic and marital status, was related consistently to poorer adherence (Drotar & Bonner, 2009).…”

Dutch normative data and psychometric properties for the Distress Thermometer for Parents

“…In pediatric oncology a DT-P is developed in the USA; however, this instrument has not been studied in a large sample of parents of children with several chronic health conditions. Therefore Kazak et al [8] and Patel et al [9] emphasized the necessity of developing a DT especially for parents of a chronically ill child and to examine its diagnostic utility in a large sample. The Dutch DT-P is an adaptation of the Dutch version of the Distress Thermometer, a screening tool in standard adult oncology practice [10, 11].…”

Childhood Cancer: Psychosocial Aspects

“…Psychological counseling programs have been developed based on the knowledge of typical stress and resource factors in families with childhood cancer (Kazak et al, 2007(Kazak et al, , 2012. The particular counseling interventions applied are specifically tailored taking into account the specific stressors that characterize certain phases of the treatment course.…”