CesiKids Trial: Enhancing Psychological Resilience in Adolescents With Cancer

Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Resilience, Psychological; Coping; Mobile Application; Pediatric Nursing; Pediatric Cancer; Adolescent Cancer

Treatments: Other: CesiKids Mobile-Based Psychological Resilience Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07228533

ESOGU-SBF-SD-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will develop and evaluate a mobile-based co-design intervention (CesiKids) to enhance psychosocial resilience in hospitalized adolescents aged 12-18 diagnosed with cancer. The program will be created using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and designed in collaboration with nurses, recovered adolescents, and parents. A randomized controlled design will be used. The intervention group will participate in a four-week structured program, while the control group will receive standard care. Psychosocial resilience and coping outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. This research aims to offer an evidence-based, scalable model to support resilience among adolescents with cancer in clinical settings.

Full description

This study aims to develop an innovative mobile-based co-design intervention program to strengthen psychosocial resilience among adolescents aged 12-18 diagnosed with cancer. The program will be structured based on Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, addressing adolescents' individual characteristics, family and close-social environment, and broader ecological interactions in a holistic manner. To date, no study has implemented a theoretically grounded, mobile psychosocial intervention designed specifically to enhance resilience in adolescents with cancer through a co-design process involving nurses, recovered adolescents, and parents. This project aims to fill this gap by presenting a model that can be integrated into both clinical practice and educational settings.

The research will be conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design with intervention and control groups. The intervention group will participate in the newly developed mobile CesiKids program and engage in structured sessions for four weeks to enhance psychosocial resilience skills. The control group will receive standard clinical care. Participants' coping and psychosocial resilience levels will be measured using the Pediatric Cancer Coping Scale (PCCS) and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-R). Data collection will take place at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1) and during follow-up assessments (T2 and T3). Quantitative data will be analyzed statistically, and the feasibility and usability of the program will also be monitored.

The CesiKids application will be developed by the project leader and research team. Data collection will be carried out by a nurse researcher experienced in pediatric oncology. All intervention, data collection, and analysis procedures will be carefully planned and monitored. All study data will be anonymized and accessible only to the research team. Data will be securely stored on protected servers and maintained throughout the project. All research processes will be conducted in accordance with ethical standards, and participant rights will be fully respected.

The project is expected to generate an evidence-based model that enhances psychosocial resilience among adolescents with cancer. The developed program will be applicable and scalable in both clinical and educational environments. Findings will be disseminated through academic publications, conference presentations, and among relevant healthcare institutions to ensure sustainability and maximize societal impact. Ultimately, this study intends to provide a practical contribution to the field of adolescent psychosocial resilience and to support the adaptation of similar interventions for other chronic illness groups.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents have provided informed consent after receiving information,
• The child has given assent to participate after being informed,
• The child is between 12 and 18 years of age,
• The child has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently receiving inpatient treatment,
• The child is undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy,
• The child is able to use a computer and/or smartphone,
• The child can understand and speak Turkish.

Exclusion criteria

• Receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment,
• Having developed a relapse after remission,
• Experiencing communication difficulties (e.g., intellectual disability, visual impairment, etc.),
• Having a psychiatric diagnosis made by a psychiatrist,
• Having experienced a significant life event affecting psychological well-being within the past four weeks (e.g., death, divorce, etc.).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Psychosocial Care Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive standard psychological care routinely provided within the pediatric oncology clinic. No additional structured digital intervention or psychological resilience-based program will be administered. Standard support, including routine clinical communication and psychological services offered by the healthcare team, will continue as usual during the study period.

CesiKids Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive the CesiKids program, a mobile-based psychological resilience intervention specifically developed for adolescents diagnosed with cancer. The program includes AI-supported guidance and interventions and consists of a total of four modules delivered over four weeks, with two structured sessions per module (eight sessions in total). Participants' engagement with the program and their assessment outcomes will be evaluated to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the CesiKids intervention in enhancing psychological resilience and coping skills among adolescents with cancer.

Treatment:

Other: CesiKids Mobile-Based Psychological Resilience Program