PURPOSE: (1) Investigate supportive care needs and preferences of parents of children with cancer (2) Assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a Parent Support Group Intervention (PSGI). METHODS: One-hundred and eight parents completed the Parent Support Survey (PSS). Data were utilized in the creation of a PSGI. The PSGI consisted of eight 1.5-hour sessions encompassing guided group discussion. As part of feasibility, acceptability, recruitment/retention and preliminary outcomes were assessed. Parents completed outcome measures assessing knowledge of disease/treatment management, community/hospital/family resources, perception of social support and feelings of distress/anxiety. RESULTS: From the PSS, 86/108 (80%) of parents expressed interest in a PSGI. Fourteen parents attended the PSGI only once and 14 parents attended the PSGI more than once. Outcome measure results depict favourable changes after group attendance. Recruitment and retention data highlight challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Information gained from this study will be used to improve planning and delievery of future PSGI’s.

PURPOSE: (1) Investigate supportive care needs and preferences of parents of children with cancer (2) Assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a Parent Support Group Intervention (PSGI). METHODS: One-hundred and eight parents completed the Parent Support Survey (PSS). Data were utilized in the creation of a PSGI. The PSGI consisted of eight 1.5-hour sessions encompassing guided group discussion. As part of feasibility, acceptability, recruitment/retention and preliminary outcomes were assessed. Parents completed outcome measures assessing knowledge of disease/treatment management, community/hospital/family resources, perception of social support and feelings of distress/anxiety. RESULTS: From the PSS, 86/108 (80%) of parents expressed interest in a PSGI. Fourteen parents attended the PSGI only once and 14 parents attended the PSGI more than once. Outcome measure results depict favourable changes after group attendance. Recruitment and retention data highlight challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Information gained from this study will be used to improve planning and delievery of future PSGI’s.

PURPOSE: (1) Investigate supportive care needs and preferences of parents of children with cancer (2) Assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a Parent Support Group Intervention (PSGI). METHODS: One-hundred and eight parents completed the Parent Support Survey (PSS). Data were utilized in the creation of a PSGI. The PSGI consisted of eight 1.5-hour sessions encompassing guided group discussion. As part of feasibility, acceptability, recruitment/retention and preliminary outcomes were assessed. Parents completed outcome measures assessing knowledge of disease/treatment management, community/hospital/family resources, perception of social support and feelings of distress/anxiety. RESULTS: From the PSS, 86/108 (80%) of parents expressed interest in a PSGI. Fourteen parents attended the PSGI only once and 14 parents attended the PSGI more than once. Outcome measure results depict favourable changes after group attendance. Recruitment and retention data highlight challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Information gained from this study will be used to improve planning and delievery of future PSGI’s.

PURPOSE: (1) Investigate supportive care needs and preferences of parents of children with cancer (2) Assess the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a Parent Support Group Intervention (PSGI). METHODS: One-hundred and eight parents completed the Parent Support Survey (PSS). Data were utilized in the creation of a PSGI. The PSGI consisted of eight 1.5-hour sessions encompassing guided group discussion. As part of feasibility, acceptability, recruitment/retention and preliminary outcomes were assessed. Parents completed outcome measures assessing knowledge of disease/treatment management, community/hospital/family resources, perception of social support and feelings of distress/anxiety. RESULTS: From the PSS, 86/108 (80%) of parents expressed interest in a PSGI. Fourteen parents attended the PSGI only once and 14 parents attended the PSGI more than once. Outcome measure results depict favourable changes after group attendance. Recruitment and retention data highlight challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Information gained from this study will be used to improve planning and delievery of future PSGI’s.