A 12-week WeChat education, relaxing, and care program relieves anxiety, depression, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of childhood lymphoma patients.

Objectives: In our previous study, we conducted a 6-month WeChat education and care program for parents of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, which was effectively alleviated anxiety, depression, and insomnia. This study implemented a 12-week WeChat education, relaxing, and care program (WERC) to investigate its effect on psychological disorders and insomnia in parents of childhood lymphoma patients.

Methods: Totally, 112 parents of 56 childhood lymphoma patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio into WERC (N = 56) or normal care (NC) (N = 56) groups to receive corresponding 12-week interventions. The self-rating anxiety/depression scale (SAS/SDS), Athens insomnia scale (AIS), and impact of events scale-revised (IES-R) scores were assessed at enrollment (W0) and 12 weeks after the initiation of the intervention (W12); score changes (W0-W12) were also calculated.

Results: Scores of the scales at W0 did not differ between groups (all P > 0.05). The WERC group showed a lower SAS score at W12 (P = 0.045) and greater change in SAS score (P < 0.001) than the NC group. The SDS score at W12 was not different (P = 0.119), while SDS score change was numerically greater (P = 0.076) in the WERC group than the NC group. Compared with the NC group, the WERC group tended toward a decreased AIS score at W12 (P = 0.054) and a greater AIS score change (P < 0.001). The IES-R score at W12 was lower (P = 0.040), and the IES-R score change was greater (P = 0.013) in the WERC group than the NC group.

Conclusion: A 12-week WERC ameliorates psychological disorders and insomnia better than NC in parents of childhood lymphoma patients.