Article
Effectiveness of a comprehensive support program for families with parental cancer (Family-SCOUT): results of a multicenter non-randomized controlled trial
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Authors
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A. Petermann-Meyer
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Jens Panse
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Rebecca Horbach-Bremen
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Marc Dohmen
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Barbara Drueke
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Franziska Geiser
- University Hospital Bonn, Germany
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Burkhard Haastert
- mediStatistica
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Christian Heuser
- University of Cologne, Germany
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Lina Heier
- University Hospital Bonn, Germany
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Steffen Holsteg
- University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany
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Andrea Icks
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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André Karger
- University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany
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Anja Viehmann
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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Tim Brümmendorf
- RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Nicole Ernstmann
- University Hospital Bonn, Germany; University of Cologne, Germany
| Published: | September 10, 2024 |
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Outline
Text
Background: Cancer patients with minor children but also their families suffer from significant psychological distress and comorbidity. Protective factors predicting successful coping are well-known. Corresponding systematic interventions are rare and limited by access barriers. We developed a comprehensive family-centered intervention for cancer patients with at least one dependent minor.
Objective: Aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Family-SCOUT intervention.
Methods: Family-SCOUT represents a multicentric, prospective, interventional, and controlled study for families with parental cancer and their minor children. In the intervention group (IG), all family members were addressed using a care and case management approach for nine months. Families in the control group (CG) received standard of care. Participating parents were asked to complete the Hospital-Anxiety-Depression-Scale (HADS) questionnaire at enrolment (T0) and after 9 months (T2). The primary outcome was a clinically relevant reduction of distress in at least one parent per family, measured as MID (minimal important difference) of ≥1.6 in the HADS total score. The percentage of families achieving MID is compared between the IG and CG by exact Fisher’s test, followed by multivariate confounder analyses.
Results: T0-questionnaire of at least one parent was available for 424 of 472 participating families, T2-questionnaire after nine months was available for 331 families (IG n=175, CG n=156). At baseline, both parents showed high levels of distress (HADS total: sick parents IG: 18.7±8.1; CG: 16.0±7.2; healthy partners: IG: 19.1±7.9; CG: 15.2±7.7). The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in parental distress in the IG (MID 70.4% in at least one parent) compared to the CG (MID 55.8%; p=0.008). Adjustment for group differences from specific confounders retained significance (p=0.047). Bias from other confounders cannot be excluded.
Implication for research and/or (healthcare) practice: Parental cancer leads to a high psychosocial burden in affected families. Significant distress reduction can be achieved through an optimized and structured care approach directed at the family level such as Family-SCOUT.
Funding: Innovationsfonds/Versorgungsforschung; Project name: Familien-SCOUT – Sectoren- und phasenübergreifende Unterstützung für Familien mit krebserkranktem Elternteil; Grant number: NVF1_2017-115
