Parenting Skills Intervention in Improving Medication Adherence in Pediatric Cancer Patients

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To pilot test a novel parenting intervention. II. To examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the parenting intervention on child medication adherence among children who are experiencing an illness. OUTLINE: Participants with poor medication adherence are randomized to 1 of 3 groups. EARLY GROUP: Participants continue medication adherence monitoring over 1 week and then receive parental skills intervention sessions consisting of 4 integrated components: creating consistent medication routines, education in child management strategies, strategies for helping children adhere to medication, and training in specific parental behavioral techniques over 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks. DELAYED GROUP: Participants continue medication adherence monitoring over 2 weeks and then receive parental skills intervention sessions consisting of 4 integrated components: creating consistent medication routines, education in child management strategies, strategies for helping children adhere to medication, and training in specific parental behavioral techniques over 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks. LATE GROUP: Participants continue medication adherence monitoring over 3 weeks and then receive parental skills intervention sessions consisting of 4 integrated components: creating consistent medication routines, education in child management strategies, strategies for helping children adhere to medication, and training in specific parental behavioral techniques over 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks.