Clinical implications
Pain caused by treatment is closely related to psychological trauma of children with cancer. Effective pain management and relieving the physical and psychological symptoms will help to improve children’s quality of life. The mental health of the parents directly affects the children’s mental health and the general family functioning. Early detection of the psychological trauma of the parents and timely interventions can have a far-reaching positive impact on the prognosis of the children. Application of the techniques from the cognitive-behavioral theoretical framework is recommended for the family members of children with cancer39. For parents of children with ongoing cancer treatment, intervention with Internet-based guided self-help following the principles of cognitive behavior therapy has shown promising effects for relieving PTSS and related symptoms40.