Objective: Bibliotherapy has been shown to improve quality of life in adults with cancer and promises to be similarly advantageous in children. This study aimed to co-design a bibliotherapy intervention to improve emotional wellbeing in children with cancer.
Sample and setting: Recruitment of children with cancer, their families, health professionals, volunteers, teachers, and librarians occurred through the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, professional networks, the University of South Australia and social media.
Procedures: We conducted a series of workshops, both online and in person. Participants contributed to worksheets, Mural boards, and group discussions during the workshops, which were transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes not captured in the worksheets and Mural boards.
Results: Thematic analysis identified a preference for 1) carefully chosen and personalised books, 2) flexibility in terms of place of delivery, 3) fun, engaging books and enthusiastic people reading them, and a need for 4) the intervention to complement other programs as well as clinical requirements for infection control. The following polarities were also identified: the need for books that distract from the cancer experience vs. the potential value of books about resilience or coping with cancer, the opportunity to connect with someone through reading vs. the convenience of online books and audiobooks, and parents’ need for respite vs. concerns about someone else coming to read with their child outside the hospital environment and the choice to isolate from others.
Conclusion and clinical implications: Bibliotherapy has potential to support the emotional wellbeing of children with cancer and their families. However, personalisation and a balance between family and clinical needs is essential. Next steps include development of an intervention, workshops to elicit feedback on the prototype, and pilot testing to ensure the intervention is feasible, acceptable, and associated with emotional wellbeing.