Therapeutic Parent–Child Communication and Health Outcomes in the Childhood Cancer Context: A Scoping Review.

Simple Summary: Family communication in the cancer context has gained attention as a crucial factor related to the quality of life of children and adolescents. The aim of this review was to examine therapeutic parent–child communication and its impact on health outcomes in children and adolescents with cancer. This review identified an emerging body of evidence that therapeutic parent–child communication contributes to better psychological health outcomes at both the individual and family levels in the childhood cancer context. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of family communication may provide knowledge for developing interventions to improve family communication and health outcomes. Family communication has been thought to be an important area to support children's adjustment to a cancer diagnosis. However, the characteristics of therapeutic parent–child communication that contribute to better patient outcomes and the specific patient health outcomes have been less explored. This current review explored the characteristics of therapeutic parent–child communication and its physical and psychological health outcomes. A total of 5034 articles were initially identified, and only 10 articles remained for inclusion in this review after application of the exclusion criteria. Most studies used a cross-sectional design and measured verbal communication characteristics and its psychological outcomes, but no physical outcomes. The characteristics of therapeutic verbal communication (openness, maternal validation, quality of information shared, etc.) and nonverbal communication (eye contact, close physical distance, and acknowledging behaviors) were identified. The psychological health outcomes included less distress, a lower level of PTSS, less internalizing and externalizing of symptoms, increased levels of social emotional competencies, better peer relationships, and more cooperation during the procedure at the individual level. Increased family cohesion and family adaptation were family-level outcomes. Longitudinal studies are needed to identify what qualities of communication predict better psychological outcomes so that interventions can be developed and tested. In addition, physical outcomes should be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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