Purpose
The purpose of this study was to review interventions available to nurses caring for siblings of children with cancer.
Methods
Searches of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and RISS identified ten intervention studies published from January, 2000 to November, 2016.
Results
Ten studies on interventions for siblings of pediatric cancer patients were identified as follows: 4 included camps, 4 included support groups, and 2 provided individual interventions. Theoretical frameworks were mainly cognitive behavioral theory and most studies were led by psychologists and multidisciplinary teams. The purpose of the interventions was primarily enhancing psychosocial adjustment. Siblings’ fear of disease, self-esteem, and social support were improved significantly after the interventions. Findings were inconsistent with regard to depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, post-traumatic stress, health-related quality of life, and siblings’ perceptions of the illness.
Conclusion
Study findings showed the potential for enhancing emotional and behavioral outcomes in siblings of children with cancer. However, the number of studies was very small, and several methodological limitations were identified. In the future, more randomized controlled trials with larger samples are needed to extend the evidence base. Moreover, future research should identify sibling’s characteristics and circumstances most likely to bring benefits to the siblings.

Citations

• Development and effects of an internet-based family resilience-promoting program for parents of children with cancer: A randomized controlled trial
  Mina Park, Sunah Kim, Hyejung Lee, Yoon Jung Shin, Chuhl Joo Lyu, Eun Kyoung Choi
  European Journal of Oncology Nursing.2023; 64: 102332.     CrossRef
• Measurement Properties of Self-Report Questionnaires Measuring the Social Adjustment for Youth after Treatment of Childhood Cancer: Systematic Review
  Su-Mi Oh, Sun-Young Park, Hye-Jung Lee, Ju Hee Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2018; 24(1): 78.     CrossRef