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ShopTalk: a pilot study of the feasibility and utility of a therapeutic board game for youth living with cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

ShopTalk is a therapeutic game, created to help youth living with cancer talk about their illness in a non-threatening way. The aim of this study is to learn how the game is being used in clinical settings and to gather information regarding the usefulness of ShopTalk in establishing a therapeutic relationship and in assessing key psychosocial issues in the child's life.

Methods

ShopTalk was distributed at a social work pediatric oncology conference and to 70 sites. Game holders were asked to complete a survey regarding their clinical experience using ShopTalk.

Results

Responses came from 110 professionals. ShopTalk has been found to be as an effective tool in identifying coping skills and psychological adjustment, as well as issues related to family relationships, depression/sadness, stress, prognosis, peer relationships, and self-esteem. Respondents found ShopTalk useful from diagnosis to end of life. Qualitative feedback suggested therapeutic value along with discomfort with specific questions.

Conclusion

ShopTalk appears to be a beneficial therapeutic tool in building rapport and identifying and discussing difficult issues with medically ill children. Areas for future versions of the game and research exploring patient/therapist outcomes are discussed

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute. Funding for the production of ShopTalk was obtained from the Philip Pizzo Gift Fund at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. We would like to thank the hundreds of children treated at the National Cancer Institute from 1999 to 2009 who provided invaluable insights that helped in the development of this game. We would also like to acknowledge Crystal Mackall, MD, for her unyielding support of psychosocial interventions for children living with cancer that led to the manufacturing of ShopTalk, along with Brie Kohrt, MA for her assistance with the training video and data collection and Nia Billings, MA, for her help with the data coding for the manuscript preparation.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored this research or receive any royalties or compensation related to ShopTalk. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review our data if requested.

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Correspondence to Lori Wiener.

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Wiener, L., Battles, H., Mamalian, C. et al. ShopTalk: a pilot study of the feasibility and utility of a therapeutic board game for youth living with cancer. Support Care Cancer 19, 1049–1054 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1130-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1130-z

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