CPN is collaborating with Kim Mooney-Doyle, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Maryland to conduct a study with siblings and parents to understand their experiences, especially around family communication. Kim is a pediatric nurse and researcher who is interested in family health and of course, CPN is all about family health and well-being.
The Study
When a child lives with a serious illness, parents and siblings are also affected. They have described ways everyday life and family relationships are affected, such as not being able to spend a lot of time together or not wanting to worry each other with their own concerns. But, siblings and parents have also taught us that they would like to support one another, show their love, and get some guidance from their healthcare professionals. This study is specifically interested in understanding what contributes to sibling well-being when a child in the family has a serious illness and what siblings and parents believe would be helpful in supporting sibling well-being and family relationships including:
- Ways to best help siblings and families.
- How families communicate or talk about important topics related to serious illness.
- Ways you start conversations with each other.
- How families communicate with the care team.
- Whether the way we ran the study was helpful.
To gather this information, the researchers will talk with siblings who are between 12 and 17 years old, who speak Spanish or English, and at least one parent. The sibling and parent will do a few surveys and, if interested, an interview over the phone or computer.
This study will enroll participants through spring 2025.
What are the steps in this project?
This study requires participation by both the sibling (ages 12-17) and the parent. If you are interested:
- Email Kim Mooney-Doyle at kmooney-doyle@umaryland.edu and let her know your family is interested in participating.
- The research team will set up a time to talk on the phone about the study so they can answer any questions you might have.
- Each sibling and parent will receive a link to complete a few surveys about themselves and the family on-line.
- For those who are interested, researchers will also do an interview to get sibling and parent ideas.
- If you agree, the researchers will do a brief phone call after the surveys and/or interview to see if the study format was helpful and to make sure it captured your ideas well.
How will researchers use the information gathered in the study?
The information gathered from the surveys and interview will be used in research papers and presentations. These papers and presentations are important to teach nurses, physicians, psychologists, socials workers, child life specialists, and others how take better care of siblings and families when another child in the family is seriously ill. They will also use this information to create ways to support siblings and families.
What to do if you have a problem or question while participating?
If you have questions, call or text Kim at 215-514-1707. or email her at kmooney-doyle@umaryland.edu
DOWNLOAD A FLYER ABOUT THE STUDY