Evaluation of a camp program for siblings of children with cancer
O. J. Sahler and P. J. Carpenter
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, NY Medical Center 14642.
In recent years, specialized camping programs for chronically ill children,
members of their family, or both have proliferated. Although these programs
are popular, little systematic evaluation of risk-benefit has been
undertaken. In a naturalistic study we evaluated the effect of a 5-day
residential camping program to determine the effect of the program on the
level of medical knowledge, on the perceptions of how the cancer experience
affected the individual, and on the participant's mood state. Analysis of
questionnaire data from 90 campers before and after their participation in
the program revealed that desirable changes occurred in each of these areas
and were sustained for at least 3 months after the program. Siblings
reported by parents to have behavioral problems with onset since the
diagnosis of the cancer seemed to benefit particularly from this type of
program. No substantial negative effects were found regardless of the
camper age, adaptational status, or previous camp experience.
