PATIENT SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

1. Psychological Counseling

This includes studying the medical diagnosis of the patients, conduction of psychological assessments, Evaluation and providing counseling as per the need. It focuses on different stages of cancer patient goes through such as first line of treatment, Pre & Post BMT, Relapse, Pre & Post surgery . Counselin services are provided to the other family members also. We also use Medical Play & Hospital Dolls – (Taklu/Takli) as a psychological intervention with the children. The doll helps in rapport formation and children can express their emotions while playing with the doll. It helps in triggering the expression of emotions and provided a way to cope with hospital stay and procedures. Through these sessions, the children and their parents become more empowered and much more relaxed as having accurate and age-appropriate information reduces irrational fears and misconceptions that the child and caregivers have.

2. Group Therapies 

​It includes Sharing & Caring Sessions & topic based Psycho-education sessions to deal with palliative, bereavement and other issues among the parents of the patients by sharing experiences, discussing problems and relieve the emotional burden of providing this support. The “Sharing & Caring Sessions are done with Parents of the newly diagnosed, BMT, solid tumour, RB, relapse; & parents of terminal patients, teenage cancer patients and survivors and Cankids staff. These sessions enable the participants to able find support in a place where they share their experience, stories of loss, hope and renewal and what they have done to cope with their own emotions and move through their own healing process.

3. Expressive Therapies

Non- Pharmacological Interventions for Procedural Pain: 

The Handy Candy Program in Hospital OPDs: Children form perception about doctors in their minds as fearful and they usually get threaten in the name of hospitals. The aim of this intervention is to direct the children’s attention by providing lollypops to children by the respective doctors during the course of treatment on OPD clinics or in the procedure room in all the units.
Procedural Support:  We have initiated the introduction of non pharmacological approaches to the reduction of procedural pain like comfort position posters, educational Journals on medical procedure, training videos, and hospital dolls and Toy Medical Kits.
Distraction Cart: The distraction cart consists of toys and other items which help to relieve stress and decrease anxiety in the children when they get their procedures done. It is very handy tools which would be placed in the Procedure Rooms where Nurses, Doctors and the Psychologists can use this as a therapeutic intervention which will distract the child and develop their coping strategies as they go through the procedure.
Therapies: We do Play, Art, Music and Clown Therapy and conducts Relaxation, Meditation and Story Telling Sessions with the patients and sometimes with the caregivers as well. The aim is to provide opportunities to children and caregivers to explore safe methods of emotional expression, help them to make the most of their present abilities, engage them in something familiar and enjoyable, and help them to learn, grow and develop.

4. Child Life

​This includes integrating innovative complementary approaches to treatment focusing on the children undergoing cancer treatment, incorporating child friendly wards, Toy and story book library and wish granting.
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Child Friendly Wards:
Providing a happy, fun environment can actually lessen the child’s reluctance to stay in the hospital or reduce their apprehensions towards painful procedures. We upgrade and beautify the hospital wards by providing a happy and cheerful atmosphere that is appropriate for children’s needs thus making the hospital stay normalized and enjoyable during their course of cancer treatment. Under this intervention we set up  play area/play room, do ward painting and art work, provide curtains and Play and Breakfast Tables, Art & Craft Board, colourful Shoe Racks and Televisions that is appropriate for children’s needs and making the hospital stay normalized.

Toy & Story Book Library:
The set up toys and story book library in the wards also done by the psychologists. One of the biggest roles of play for hospitalized children is distraction. We equip wards with toys, games and story books which provide a fun and happy environment for the child maintaining child’s right to play even in the middle of the treatment.

Kekdu Wish Box: 
Cankids Kekdu Wish Box program is dedicated to granting the most cherished wish of children undergoing cancer. We help the children to get aware of their wishes and inculcate a hope in them through fulfillment of their wishes because the most cherished wish of a child who has very little hope of enjoying a normal, healthy life not only gives happiness and joy to him/her but also has a therapeutic effect on the child. This also includes a Wishing Island designed for the children to fulfill their wish and experience the freedom of choice and maintain their individuality by selecting a product from a wide range of Games, Toys & Story Books available.

5. Survivor Assistance Program
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​    (SAP)

This Program is a combination of basic supportive interventions like psychological counseling and Sharing and Caring Sessions with the Survivors and their Parents. This intervention addresses the unique needs and challenges of parents, the family and “Post Traumatic Stress aspects of survivorship.

6. Terminal and Bereavement
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​    Support

Focusing on Breaking bad news/Disclosure, Preparing the parents and family members from palliative to the terminal phase and as well as for death.

7. Patient & Parent Teaching And
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    Psycho- Education Sessions

Psycho education sessions are also conducted by team of psychologists with the patients and caregivers regarding various topics such as coping with stress, anxiety and behavioral issues. The aim of Psycho education session is to educate and empower patients and caregivers about the psychological issues they face during cancer treatment and to make them aware of techniques through which they can overcome from these issues.

PROGRAM SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

1. Capacity and Skill Building,



    Sensitization & Training in
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    Pediatric Psycho-oncology.


It is an ongoing training program for multidisciplinary team of Psychologists, Social Workers, Support Groups, Students and Medical Professionals through didactic lectures, Videos, role-play exercises, group and field work . The module focuses on Counseling at different stages of cancer, Group and Supportive Therapies, Child Life, Palliative & Bereavement Care, Research, Program Management and Implementation.

2. Impact Assessment, Research,     



   Studies and Tool Development


​Conducting impact assessment, studies and  
research in the pediatric psycho-oncology field, developing tools, norms, guidelines and projects for appropriate interventions.

3. Pediatric Psycho-oncology
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    Internship Program




Our internship program provides practical exposure in counseling, Group Therapies, Child Life, Program Management, Research & Tool development for students pursuing Psychology and Child Life studies.