Effects of Using a Storybook, to Explain Leukemia to Children Versus the Standard Child Life Intervention, on Parental Stress.
Effects of a Storybook About New Leukemia Diagnosis Versus Standard Child Life Intervention on Parental Stress: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Study
Who can join
Ages 3 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Parents are approached and enrolled on the inpatient Hematology Oncology unit at CHLA, during the admission where their child received a new leukemia diagnosis. Inclusion Criteria: * Parent/Legal Guardian of a child a. who is school-aged (3-16 years old) with a new leukemia diagnosis b. with a new leukemia diagnosis who is not school-aged but is a sibling of a school-aged child (\<3 years or \>16 years old). * Parent/legal guardian is able to speak, read, and write English or Spanish, and give informed consent 3. Parent/legal guardian is over 18 years of age. Exclusion Criteria: * Their school-aged children have developmental or cognitive delays, and/or other chronic illnesses. * Their school-aged child does not give assent to participate.
About the study
The goal of this clinical trial is to measure the effects of using a storybook versus standard child life intervention with parents of children newly diagnosed with leukemia on parental stress.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* What effect will the storybook have on parent/legal guardian stress at three timepoints: baseline, discharge, and follow up? * Will this storybook impact parent/legal guardian comfort levels and improve their child's understanding?
Participants will be asked to complete surveys at three timepoints, prior to and following child life intervention and about 3.5 months later. During child life interventions, participants will receive resources and support to explain leukemia to their school aged, 3-16-year-old, child (patient or sibling).
Researchers will compare Intervention and Control Groups to see if parental stress is lower in those who received the storybook in addition to the standard child life intervention versus the standard child life intervention alone.
What is being tested
- "Who is Luke Eemia?" Storybook (behavioral)
Sponsor: Children's Hospital Los Angeles · Participants: 140 · Started: Feb 3, 2024
Contact the study team
- Erin Shields, MA · Phone: 323-361-3630
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06360718
Locations in the U.S.
| California | Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.