Web-Based Filial Therapy In Pediatric Cancer

NCT07495553 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PYO.SBF.1904.23.012
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examines the effect of a web-based filial therapy program on parental role perception among parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Pediatric cancer not only affects the physical health of the child but also disrupts the emotional and relational dynamics within the family. Due to hospitalization, infection risk, and treatment demands, children may have limited opportunities for play, which is essential for emotional expression and development. At the same time, parents may become primarily focused on the child's medical care and may experience difficulties in maintaining their parenting role. Filial therapy is an approach that helps parents support their child's emotional needs through structured play. In this study, a 5-week web-based filial therapy program was developed to provide accessible training for parents without requiring separation from their child. Parents learned basic therapeutic play skills and applied them in their daily interactions with their child. The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with 60 parents, divided into intervention and control groups. The results aim to determine whether the program improves parents' perceptions of their parenting role. This research may contribute to the development of accessible psychosocial interventions that support both children and parents in the context of pediatric cancer.

Conditions

Parenting Anxiety; Pediatric Cancer; Parental Stress

Keywords

Filial Therapy; Web-Based Intervention; Pediatric Cancer; Parental Role; Play Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trial; Parenting

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Self-Perception of Parental Role Scale (SPPRS)

  Self-Perception of Parental Role Scale (SPPRS) total score. The scale consists of 18 items, with total scores ranging from 18 to 72. Higher scores indicate a more positive perception of the parental role. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and after the 5-week intervention period.

  Pre-test (baseline) and post-test (5 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Web-Based Filial Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received a 5-week web-based filial therapy program, including video-based training, structured parent-child play sessions, and individualized feedback.

Behavioral: Web-Based Filial Therapy Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group received no intervention during the study period.

Interventions

Web-Based Filial Therapy Program BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consisted of a 5-week web-based filial therapy program designed for parents of children diagnosed with cancer. The program included pre-recorded video sessions providing structured training in core filial therapy skills, such as empathic listening, child-led play, emotional reflection, and therapeutic limit setting. Parents were instructed to apply these skills during structured play sessions with their children in their natural environment. To support adherence and intervention fidelity, participants submitted video recordings of their play sessions through the web platform and received individualized feedback from the researcher. The program also included reminder messages and an integrated messaging system to facilitate communication between participants and the researcher.

Web-Based Filial Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Parent of a child diagnosed with cancer
• Child under 12 years of age
• Living with the child
• Literate
• No diagnosed psychiatric disorder
• Access to a computer and internet connection
• Active use of digital communication tools (internet, phone, or email)
• Willing to participate voluntarily and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosed psychiatric disorder
• Inability to use digital tools
• Failure to complete the intervention program
• Withdrawal from the study during the intervention period
• Experiencing child loss during the study
• Having a child older than 12 years diagnosed with cancer

Sponsors & Collaborators

• serap güleç keskin: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ondokuz Mayis Univetsity Hospital

Atakent, Samsun, 55200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Study Officials

• serap GULEC Keskin, Associate Professor

  Ondokuz Mayıs University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group in a parallel-group design. The intervention group received a 5-week web-based filial therapy program, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (pre-test) and after completion of the intervention (post-test).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 21, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: September 25, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2025
• Study Completion: July 11, 2025
• Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)