Normalized Camping Experience's Psychological Benefits for Children With Cancer
This observational study aims to explore the psychological benefits, specifically the increase in self-esteem, in children with cancer who participate in a normalized camping experience.
Data Collection
Collected from today forward - ProspectiveNeoplasms
Cohort
Tracking disease incidence in order to identify risk factors and understand disease progression over time.Summary
Study start date: February 15, 1983
Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.Background: * Cancer has an enormous impact on the psychological and social well-being of the family unit. The life-threatening connotations of cancer single out the ill child from his peer/family group as one who is different, and often unable to maintain a normal lifestyle. Physical sequelae of cancer and its treatment accentuate the differences between these children and their normal peers/siblings. * It is important that children with cancer be prepared to function outside of protected situations and begin to develop skills of separation and independence. For healthy children, some of these latter skills are acquired by a camping experience. Such an experience for the patient with cancer is frequently precluded by their dependence on medical facilities and the physical limitations of their activities. * The goal of this study will be to assess the short and long term benefits of the "normalized" camping experience, provided in conjunction with Special Love, Inc., on the patients and staff. In particular, we will seek to determine whether such a comprehensive experience is capable of influencing the attitudes and life experiences of patients and staff in a positive manner. Objectives: -To evaluate the impact of an enriched normalized camping experience on the quality of life of the pediatric cancer patient. In particular, attempts will be made to measure the manner in which this experience influences the child's sense of well-being and self-esteem as well as his or her relationship with parents, family, and peers. Eligibility: * Children 7-17 years of age who are currently being treated for cancer or are up to 5 years post therapy OR Young adults with cancer (YACers) 18-25 years of age who are acting as counselors at Camp Fantastic and are enrolled in another NIH protocol. * All children/young adults will be selected for camp after careful screening by a multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors. * At the discretion of the multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors, special exceptions may be made for children with extenuating circumstances. Design: * Assessment of benefit may include interviews with children and families before, during and following camp. Observational data on the child's performance at camp will be collected. * Medical and nursing personnel will consist of staff from the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the NCI, other units within the NIH, and participating institutions. * Special Love members, the Program Director at the 4-H Center camp (site of the camp) and Pediatric Oncology Branch staff at the NCI will coordinate the camp program, taking into account the medical needs of each camper. * Every attempt will be made to provide a full agenda of age appropriate activities for the patients. * The length of the camping experience for children with cancer will be for 7 days beginning on a Sunday and extending through the following Saturday morning. Patients will be transported to the camp from the NIH Clinical Center and the Virginia hospitals by bus.
Protocol
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.5000 patients to be enrolled
Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.Cohort
Eligibility
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.Any sex
Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.From 7 to 25 Years
Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.Healthy volunteers not allowed
If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.Conditions
Pathology
Criteria
Study Plan
Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.2 intervention groups are designated in this study
This study does not include a placebo group
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives
Primary Objectives
Secondary Objectives
Study Centers
These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.This study has 1 location
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, United StatesOpen National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Google Maps