How to support children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How to Support cHildren with cAncer and theiR parents during the COVID-19 outbreak?: understanding Experiences, information and support needs, and decision-making – the SHARE study
IRAS ID
282176
Contact name
Anne-Sophie Darlington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Children and young people with cancer may be particularly vulnerable. Those undergoing treatment have a weakened immune system, which will mean that they will find it more difficult to fight infections. Comprehensive advice for parents has been compiled by experts and disseminated through the UKs Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).However, we urgently need to increase our understanding of evolving experiences, information needs and decision-making of these families under these extraordinarily stressful circumstances. Only through investigating parents’/main carers’ experiences and needs will we be able to tailor and provide the right support, in terms of guidance, information updates, and online interventions to reduce distress and anxiety.\n\nAims\nThe study will consist of two work packages (WPs). The aims of WP 1 are 1) to explore experiences, information and support needs and decision-making, and 2) to explore how these change over time as the situation with COVID-19 evolves. The aim of WP 2 is to evaluate whether proposed online interventions to support families reduce anxiety and stress.\n\nMethods\nDesign\nWP1: Parents and children and young people with cancer will be asked to complete a survey to explore experiences, information and support needs and decision-making. Participants will be asked to complete the survey at two follow-up timepoints to assess changes over time. \nWP2: In order to evaluate the developing online interventions for parents to reduce anxiety around the current pandemic measures, participants will be asked to complete a short standardised questionnaire before the start of the intervention, and upon completion of the intervention.\n
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0124
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion