A research program to understand the impact of parental cancer on children, co-design psychosocial support resources and test their usefulness.
Having a parent diagnosed with cancer can be a challenging experience for children. Research has mainly explored how this difficult life event can interrupt the psychological development of a child.  Much less is known about how children understand and experience their parent's cancer from the child's view. 
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Rhea is undertaking her doctoral research at UNSW, School of Clinical Medicine exploring from a child's perspective how young children understand and experience having a parent diagnosed with cancer and what is of greatest need to them during this time.  
PROGRAM OF RESEARCH
WHAT DOES THIS RESEARCH AIM TO ACHIEVE?
WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?

Parents and children are invited to participate in one face-to-face or online interview. The child interview will use arts and creative resources if face-to-face (drawing/colouring). The interview lengths will be guided by parents and children, however should take no longer than 1 hour for each interview.
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To participate in this study, please:
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  1. Read the Participation Information Sheet here.  
  2. Fill out the enquiry box below or contact Rhea Felton via email ([email protected]) for further information. 
  3. We will be in contact with you to talk further about the project and arrange available times and dates to meet. 
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED?

This study is currently recruiting families who meet the following criteria:
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  • Children aged 6 years to 12 years who have a parent / carer newly diagnosed with cancer (12 months since diagnosis)
  • Parents / co-parent / carer who have received a cancer diagnosis (12 months since diagnosis).

​South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has approved the Understanding Children's Experiences of Parental Cancer Study (2023/ETH01697)
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​The Study Team
Rhea Felton
​(PhD Candidate)
Dr Ursula Sansom-Daly 
M Clin Psy, PhD, MAPS​​
Dr Jordana McLoone
BSc(Honours), ​PhD
Dr Melvin Chin
BSc(Med), MB BS, FRACP​
CONTACT INFORMATION
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