An abstract of a study Dr. Angie made with Deputy Child Life Program Manager Ninin Sumpaico-Jose, entitled “Addressing the Psychosocial Needs of the Hospitalized Child: The Role of the Kythe Child Life Program,” was accepted for an e-poster presentation. The poster was displayed electronically and was available for viewing on e-poster stations throughout the Congress.
The abstract was based on a study that sought to determine and compare the levels of anxiety in children aged 5-12 years old, diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses, and exposed to the Kythe Child Life Program (CLP), against those who had not been exposed to the Kythe CLP. Children’s drawings, specifically the Child Drawing: Hospital instrument (by Clatworthy et al., 1999), a validated and reliable tool used to provide a measure of the anxiety level of the child as expressed by the child himself, was used in the study.
Dr. Angie joined the group of Dr. Julius Lecciones and Drs. Kathryne Pascual and Cecilia Leongson-Cruz. Dr. Lecciones presented the My Child Matters-Philippines (MCM) program, supported by the Sanofi Espoir Foundation, which works to raise awareness on pediatric cancer and to educate nurses, doctors, and allied medical professionals working with children with cancer and their families throughout the Philippines. Kythe has taken part in the MCM-Philippines program, as Dr. Angie lectures on the subject of “Preparing Children for Chemotherapy and Other Medical Procedures” in the PRC-accredited Biotherapy course offered by MCM.
The research was made possible through a grant by Kinder Kanker Genezing, while Dr. Angie’s attendance in the conference was funded by the Natividad Galang Fajardo Foundation through De La Salle University Manila.