eSCCIP: A Psychosocial eHealth Intervention for Parents of Children With Cancer

Objective: eHealth interventions may facilitate the dissemination of evidence-based psychosocial interventions to families of children with chronic illnesses, including cancer. This article describes a 4-phase, mixed-methods, user-centered approach to the design and evaluation of a novel psychosocial intervention for parents of children with cancer (Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program [eSCCIP]), adapted from an in-person intervention (Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program). Method: Development of eSCCIP involved a multidisciplinary design team of content and eHealth experts. Iterative Think Aloud testing and beta testing with parents of children with cancer was also completed. Results: An intensive, user-centered development and evaluation process was utilized to develop an eHealth intervention for parents of children with cancer. Initial testers rated eSCCIP favorably on questionnaires evaluating user experience and perceptions, and provided positive feedback and suggestions for additional improvement through qualitative interviews. Conclusions: Initial results suggest that eSCCIP may be an acceptable, feasible, and usable intervention for parents of children with cancer. eSCCIP is now ready for a larger pilot evaluation of usability, feasibility, and impact on target outcomes, including the reduction of anxiety and posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) and improvements in family functioning. Implications for Impact Statement eHealth interventions have great promise in delivering needed psychosocial support to parents and caregivers of children with cancer. This article describes the development of eSCCIP, an eHealth adaptation of an in-person intervention. Think Aloud methods and beta testing of eSCCIP indicate that this eHealth intervention may be an acceptable option for delivery of psychosocial care to parents of children with cancer.