Intervention of a Game About Radiotherapy for Children With Cancer

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) can be stressful and challenging for children exposed to a highly technical environment with large radiation equipment and immobilization devices. A pedagogical digital game about RT has been developed. Children who have received RT participated in work-shops and contributed with their experiences and suggestions.

Aim: To explore whether the intervention with a pedagogical digital game facilitate understanding, choice of distraction, creation of a sense of calmness and self-efficacy prior to and during RT and to describe the children's and the parents experiences and use of the game as a pedagogical tool. Further, to investigate feasibility in terms of reach, usability and acceptability.

Method: A feasibility and prospective waiting list control design is planned by recruiting 60 children (5-14 years) and their parents, for randomization into two groups. The first group will receive the game five days before start of RT. All children will have standard information one day before RT. The second group will have access to the game three days after start of treatment. The effects of the game will be investigated before and during RT and between groups as they receive the game at different time. Children will answer questionnaires about self-assessed anxiety, understanding of the procedure, distraction strategies, self-efficacy to remain motionless. Statistical comparative and correlational analyses will be calculated. Interviews will be performed with 12 children and 24 parents. Changes and further development of the game will be implemented based on the results of the responses.

Significance: The game can support children to undergo RT and be used nationally to prepare for RT. Thus all children receive similar information regardless of where they live, and contribute to increased knowledge, autonomy, reduce fear and anxiety. In the long term, the use of anesthesia could decrease for children.