Trajectories of illness perceptions in paediatric cancer patients and their parents and associations with health-related quality of life: Results of a prospective-longitudinal study.

Objective: In paediatric oncology, little is known about trajectories of illness perceptions and their longitudinal associations with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate changes in illness perceptions in children and parents over a one-year-period and to investigate predictive value of child's and parent's illness perceptions during acute treatment for child's HRQoL 1 year later.

Methods: N = 65 child-parent-dyads participated in a longitudinal study (retention rate: 80.

[Screening to Assess Psychosocial Follow-up Needs in Pediatric Oncology (NPO-11) for Self- and Parent-Report].

Background: Children diagnosed with cancer are at increased risk for the development of psychosocial problems. Currently, no qualitative and quantitative tests are available to measure their need for psychosocial follow-up care. The NPO-11 screening was developed to tackle this issue.

Illness perceptions, fear of progression and health-related quality of life during acute treatment and follow-up care in paediatric cancer patients and their parents: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study examines the role of illness perceptions and fear of progression (FoP) in paediatric cancer patients and their parents for patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL), controlling for sociodemographic and medical variables. 4-18-year-old patients in acute treatment or follow-up care and one parent were examined.

Methods: N = 46 patient-parent dyads in acute treatment and n = 84 dyads in follow-up care completed measures on illness perceptions (Illness-Perceptions-Questionnaire for 12-18-year-old patients and parents or as age-adapted puppet interview for 4-11-year-old patients) and FoP (Fear-of-Progression-Questionnaire for 7-18-year-old patients and parents).

[Evaluation of a Manualized Group Program for Siblings of Children with Diseases or Disabilities].

This study evaluates a manualized group program for siblings of children with life-threatening/life-limiting diseases or disabilities. The program aims to activate resources and to reduce emotional and behavioral problems, using cognitive-behavioral methods and experience-based interventions. In this multi-center study, 13 GeschwisterTREFFs were conducted by 11 study sites in Germany.

[Focus on Siblings of Children with Chronic Illness or Disability - A Family Oriented Counselling Program].

In the psychosocial support of families with a chronically ill or disabled child siblings are increasingly addressed as a target group for prevention and rehabilitation projects intending to reduce the risk for adverse health consequences. The following article presents a childfocused approach to family counselling as a short-term intervention. Ten flexibly applicable counselling core points covering commonly reported problems of affected siblings and their families are available - including the communication about the disease within the family or the expression of the sibling's feelings and needs.