Children's knowledge and concerns towards a peer with cancer: A workshop intervention approach

A brief school workshop intervention was conducted to assess children's general knowledge of cancer and their attitudes and concerns towards a peer with cancer. The impact of the workshop upon the above issues was assessed via pre- and postworkshop assessments as well as a one month followup. The results indicated that children had a limited knowledge of cancer with those in earlier grades showing the greatest limitations. Children also manifested a number of concerns and negative attitudes towards peers with cancer which were not correlated with knowledge. Efficacy of the workshop was supported with significant increases in knowledge and decreases in personal concern and worrying which were maintained at the followup.