The Effect of Psychosocial Support Videos Provided by the Community on Disease Attitudes and Symptoms of Pediatric Oncology Patients: Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of psychosocial support videos provided by the community on the attitudes of pediatric oncology patients aged between 10 and 18 years toward their illness and treatment-related symptoms.

Data sources: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted with 52 pediatric oncology patients aged between 10 and 18. The data were collected using the Information Form, Child Attitude Towards Illness Scale (CATIS), and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). When the control group received standard care, the intervention group received psychosocial support videos provided by the community at the beginning of the week for 1 month.

Conclusion: This study suggests that the implemented intervention positively affected pediatric patients' symptom management, psychological well-being, and attitudes toward their illness. Considering that today's adolescents have grown up in the age of technology and show great interest in technology and media use, it is clear that psychosocial support videos may attract the attention of this age group. Producing and sharing similar content for other children with similar health problems may positively affect the psychosocial health outcomes of pediatric patients.

Implications for nursing practice: It has been found that it is beneficial to include community-supported psychosocial support in the nursing care of pediatric oncology patients. For this reason, it is recommended that nurses actively participate in developing psychosocial support strategies and take the lead in creating and making the content accessible.

Keywords: Community; Nursing; Pediatric oncology; Psychosocial support; Symptom.