Supporting parental caregivers of seriously ill children: findings from a feasibility and acceptability study of a hope intervention

Abstract

ABSTRACT Parents of seriously ill children face complex experiences for which support is valuable. We evaluated the Keeping Hope Possible Toolkit with 16 parental caregivers to assess feasibility and acceptability using a quasi-experimental design. Participants used the Toolkit for two to four weeks, and completed quantitative measures of hope, self-efficacy, uncertainty, and distress pre- and post-intervention and a qualitative interview. The measures were appropriate, despite no significant differences across timepoints. Qualitatively, the Toolkit supported hope, positive experiences, and navigation of emotions, confirming acceptability and feasibility following minor refinement. Findings will inform future research and subsequent implementation within family-centered pediatric healthcare.