Group Program Using Self-Care and Hypnosis to Improve Quality of Life for Children Aged 8 to 18 With Cancer and Their Parents

What this Trial Is About

Many children with cancer experience emotional distress, fatigue, and difficulties in relationships. Their parents also face increased responsibilities and may feel more distressed and tired. While psychological interventions for these families have shown promise in improving social skills, coping, and well-being, further research is needed. Hypnosis is commonly used in pediatric oncology to reduce pain and distress during procedures and has also been effective in enhancing well-being in adults with cancer. This trial explores the feasibility and potential benefits of combining self-care and hypnosis in a group setting for children with cancer and their parents. The intervention involves six monthly group sessions, each lasting two hours, where participants learn self-hypnosis exercises and discuss self-care techniques like understanding personal needs, self-respect, assertiveness, and managing negative thoughts. Homework assignments are given to encourage positive changes. Two groups participate one including children with cancer and their siblings, and another for their parents. Data are collected before and after the intervention through questionnaires and interviews to assess its impact. Participants will complete assessments measuring changes in childrens quality of life, fatigue related to cancer, and parents perceptions of their childs quality of life and their own fatigue. Secondary outcomes include the impact of cancer on the family, parents emotional distress, and coping strategies. These are evaluated before the program starts and immediately after its conclusion at six months. The study aims to improve understanding of how this combined self-care and hypnosis intervention may enhance the well-being of children with cancer and their families.

A Hypnosis-based Group Intervention to Improve Quality of Life in Children With Cancer and Their Parents.