Clinical implications
Pain caused by treatment is closely related to psychological trauma of
children with cancer. Effective pain management and relieving the
physical and psychological symptoms will help to improve children’s
quality of life. The mental health of the parents directly affects the
children’s mental health and the general family functioning. Early
detection of the psychological trauma of the parents and timely
interventions can have a far-reaching positive impact on the prognosis
of the children. Application of the techniques from the
cognitive-behavioral theoretical framework is recommended for the family
members of children with cancer39. For parents of
children with ongoing cancer treatment, intervention with Internet-based
guided self-help following the principles of cognitive behavior therapy
has shown promising effects for relieving PTSS and related
symptoms40.