A study looking at a way of reducing distress caused by treatment for leukaemia in children
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This study looked to see if workshops reduced stress and improved quality of life for children and their families. The workshops were designed for children having treatment for leukaemia.
More about this trial
This study looked to see if workshops reduced stress and improved quality of life for children and their families. The workshops were designed for children having treatment for leukaemia.
The trial was for children aged between 7 and 12 years old. The term ‘you’ is used in this summary, but of course if, you are a parent, we are referring to your child.
Treatment for leukaemia lasts for a long time and can cause a lot of side effects. This can be very stressful for you and your family.
In this study, researchers developed 4 workshops where they used puzzles and games to explain leukaemia and its treatment. They hoped to help children and their families to feel less anxious about their treatment. They wanted to see if taking part in the workshops improved your quality of life.
Summary of results
It is unclear from the results whether the workshops improved the children’s quality of life.
This was a randomised study. 58 people took part. They were put into 1 of 2 treatment groups. Neither they nor their doctor could choose which group they were in.
- 26 children started the workshops immediately
- 32 children had a delay before starting the workshops
The trial team looked at whether the people’s quality of life had improved after the workshops. They also looked whether the workshops improved emotional and behavioural problems.
It is unclear from the results whether the workshops improved the children’s quality of life. There was no improvement in the group who had the workshops immediately. There was a slight improvement in the children who had the workshops after a delay.
They found that children who had received their diagnosis longer before the workshops had higher quality of life scores when they were assessed at week 1.
The trial team found that the workshops hadn’t improved emotional and behavioural problems.
We have based this summary on information from the research team. As far as we are aware, the information they sent us has not been reviewed independently (
) or published in a medical journal yet. The figures we quote above were provided by the research team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr Guy Makin
Supported by
Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme
University of Sheffield
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
