Evaluating the experiences of parents of children with cancer engaging in a mobile device-based resilience training programme: a qualitative study

PURPOSE: A mobile device-based resilience training programme has been found to improve psychological well-being in parents of children with cancer. However, the essential elements underlying the programme’s efficacy and the factors that affect parents’ advocacy of the online resilience training remain unknown. This study explored the lived experience of engaging in a mobile device-based resilience training programme in parents of children with cancer. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used. Parents of children with cancer who had received the mobile device-based resilience training in a previous randomised controlled trial were selected to attend one-to-one semi-structured interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method. RESULTS: Twenty-one parents, comprising 15 mothers and 6 fathers, of children with cancer participated in the interview. The two following themes were identified: perceptions about the training (be beneficial for psychological well-being, be beneficial for parent–child communication and be beneficial for coping) and evaluation of the training (increased knowledge and skills, be satisfied with the intervention form and content, challenges to adhere to the programme and recommendations for future interventions). CONCLUSION: This study explored which features of a mobile device-based resilience training programme improved the psychological well-being of parents of children with cancer. Its findings highlight the importance of providing a resilience training programme that is based on the parents’ intervention form preferences and their mental health needs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04038242, registered 17 July 2019.