A randomized controlled trial of eSCCIP: An eHealth psychosocial intervention for English and Spanish speaking parents of children with cancer

The psychosocial needs and risks of children with cancer and their families are well-documented in the
literature, including the increased risk of parental distress, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety. There is a critical
need to provide evidence-based psychosocial care to parents and caregivers of children with cancer (PCCC),
although many challenges exist regarding in-person intervention delivery. eHealth interventions represent an
exciting potential opportunity to address many of the barriers to in-person intervention delivery in this
population, but are not yet widely utilized in pediatric psychosocial cancer care. The COVID-19 pandemic has
further illuminated the need for flexible, acceptable, and accessible eHealth psychosocial interventions. The
Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (eSCCIP) is an innovative eHealth intervention
for PCCC, delivered through a combination of self-guided interactive online content and telehealth follow-up
with a therapist. eSCCIP aims to decrease symptoms of acute distress, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress
while improving coping abilities by delivering evidence-based therapeutic content through a flexible, easily
accessible eHealth tool. The intervention is delivered to one or two PCCC per family, but content is designed to
apply to the whole family system. eSCCIP is grounded in principles of cognitive-behavioral and family systems
therapy and is adapted from two efficacious in-person interventions for caregivers of children with cancer, the
Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program (SCCIP) and the Surviving Cancer Competently
Intervention Program – Newly Diagnosed (SCCIP-ND). eSSCIP has been rigorously developed through a
stakeholder-engaged development process involving close collaboration with PCCC, content experts in
pediatric oncology and eHealth, and web design and development experts. A Spanish language adaptation of
eSCCIP, El Programa Electronico de Intervencion para Superar Cancer Competentemente (eSCCIP-SP), has
recently been developed following a rigorous process and is now ready for testing as well. The self-guided
online modules of eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP feature a mix of didactic video content, novel multifamily video
discussion groups featuring parents of children with cancer, and hands-on interactive activities. Pilot testing is
currently underway with promising initial results. The objective of the proposed study is to test
eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP in a rigorous, multisite RCT compared to an education control condition. The primary
study endpoint is a reduction in acute distress from baseline to post-intervention, with secondary endpoints
focused on reductions in symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety ,and improvements in coping self-
efficacy and cognitive coping. Data will be collected at three timepoints (baseline, post-intervention, and three-
month follow-up). An additional, exploratory aim will be focused on implementation strategies and potential
costs and cost-savings of eSCCIP/eSCCIP-SP, laying the groundwork for future trials focused on
dissemination and implementation, stepped-care models, and intervention refinement.

Grant Number: 5R01CA258668-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Kimberly Canter