The Impact of Education Regarding the Needs of Pediatric Leukemia Patients' Siblings on the Parents' Knowledge and Practice

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of educational intervention on parents' knowledge and performance of the social needs of the healthy siblings of the pediatric leukemia patients. Inadequate care and attention to siblings of pediatric leukemia patients might result in psychosomatic disorders. Parents' knowledge on prevention of such disorders is of great importance. The study proposed to determine the effects of educational intervention concerning parents. Sixty parents of pediatric leukemia patients entered this study. The subjects were selected using convenient sampling method and were randomly categorized into 2 groups: experimental and control. Data were collected before, 1 hour after, and 2 months after the intervention, using a questionnaire. The educational program was arranged in 3 sessions, each lasting 45 to 60 minutes using group discussion and lectures for the parents of the experimental group. Then, the parents were instructed individually, if necessary. The mean scores of the parents' knowledge in the experimental and control groups before the intervention were 5.8 and 6.2, respectively. One hour after instruction, the mean rose to 12.8 and 6.4, and 2 months later to 13.3 and 6.5 (p < .001). The family performance of 87.2% of the parents in the experimental group and 36.4% of the control group toward the siblings of the sick child was appropriate 2 months after the intervention. Therefore, educational intervention increased the knowledge of the parents of pediatric leukemia patients about the needs of the healthy siblings and how to meet them. It is recommended that educational programs be arranged for parents so that the quality of life in the healthy children can be improved.