NCT03086421

Social Emotional Development in Young Children With Cancer

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 119 (actual)
• Sponsor: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Many children with cancer are diagnosed in early childhood, and as such, will likely miss key social experiences such as participation in preschool or kindergarten, playing on playgrounds, and other normative experiences. In typically-developing children, it is known that these experiences - and the skills that are learned during them - are critical to later well-being. Very little is known about the psychological functioning of young children with cancer, as studies have predominantly focused on those who are older (at least 8 years of age). This study will explicitly assess social functioning in preschool-aged children with cancer and follow the development of their social functioning from the end of treatment into survivorship. The goals of this pilot study are to begin to assess the impact of missed early childhood social experiences, as well as the interaction with developing neurocognitive problems. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Explore the impact of cancer in the central nervous system on social functioning of young children (ages 4-6) after completion of therapy.

Detailed description

Participants will be evaluated using the same or similar questionnaires at two time points. The first assessment will take place when they are 6-12 months post the end of treatment. Participants and their parents/legal guardian will complete an assessment of social and cognitive functioning by completing questionnaires about social, emotional, behavioral, and executive functioning. If the study participant agrees, they will identify another adult (that is, teacher or daycare employee) who may be contacted to complete questionnaires about the participant's social and behavioral functioning. A follow-up study visit will occur about two years later.

Conditions

• Solid Tumor, Childhood
• Brain Tumor, Pediatric

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Questionnaires	Participants, their parent/legal guardian, and if consented to another adult caregiver will be asked to complete several questionnaires evaluating the participant's social cognitive skills, social experience, neurocognitive functioning, and neurocognitive skills.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-07-11
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2028-06-01
• First posted: 2017-03-22
• Last updated: 2025-12-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States