Grant: Project Grant

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is common, persistent, and is associated with negative personal and societal outcomes. Studies show that parents of childhood cancer survivors experience equal or greater levels of FCR than the patients. Several interventions have demonstrated their ability to reduce FCR among adult cancer patients, including a group intervention called Fear Of Recurrence Therapy (FORT), which was developed by our team. However, none have ever been adapted and offered to parents of childhood cancer survivors. Our team already has the experience of successfully adapting FORT to family caregivers of adult cancer survivors. We have worked with an advisory board composed of researchers, clinicians, and family caregivers to adapt our 6-week, 2-hour, cognitive-existential group therapy called FORT to family caregivers via videoconferencing. Preliminary evidence of acceptability was gathered by conducting a usability study with two groups of family caregivers delivered by two therapists. This previous work gives us a great starting point for the proposed FORT intervention for parents. However, given the developmental life stage of childhood cancer survivors, there are likely some further adaptations that are needed for parents. In the present project, we want 1) adapt FORT to parents of pediatric cancer survivors (henceforth named FORT-Parent) with an advisory board and iteratively evaluate it until initial acceptability is established and 2) to conduct a pilot study to assess if parents a) can be recruited at a satisfactory rate, be able to attend sessions, and are satisfied with the intervention, and b) experience lower levels of FCR and improved tolerance for uncertainty and coping. The proposed study is needed to determine if FORT-Parent is feasible and acceptable before it can be successfully tested in a randomized trial. This will address an important gap in bringing evidence-based care to parents who have never been offered help before for their FCR.