The Family Talk Intervention Improves Family Communication and Psychosocial Health Among Families in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Pre-Post Evaluation Study

Background: The psychosocial needs of families involving a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition are well recognized. However, evidence-based interventions that address the needs of the entire family remain scarce, even though family health can be maintained and supported if interventions encompass each individual family member, as well as the family as a unit. The aim was to evaluate the family talk intervention (FTI), regarding family communication, and psychosocial health, for families involving a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Methods: This pre-post study without a control group involved families of children with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition receiving FTI at a pediatric hospital and a hospice in Sweden. The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID NCT05020158, date of registration: 23 August 2021). FTI is a family-based intervention with the goal of facilitating family communication about illness-related topics, e.g., prognosis, support parenting, and making all children’s needs visible. In total, 105 participants from 29 families were included. Surveys measuring self-assessed family communication and satisfaction, anxiety, resilience, parenting skills, and children’s mental problems were answered at three time points: baseline (before intervention), at the end of the intervention, and six months later. Changes over time were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Significant improvements were reported in family communication, family satisfaction, parenting skills, and levels of anxiety over time. Children’s mental health problems were reduced over time regarding emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer relationship difficulties, and hyperactivity. No changes were found regarding resilience. Conclusion: The results suggest that FTI contributes to improved family communication and psychosocial health for families involving a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. This highlights the value of a systemic approach that actively involves all family members.