OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of structural family therapy (SFT), which refers to the application of the theory and technology of SFT for improving the internal family environment of pediatric patients through reorganization of the family roles, tasks, and boundaries, on the family structure and function in children with hematological tumors.

METHODSForty children with hematological tumors were randomly divided into SFT and control groups (n=20 each). The control group received conventional chemotherapy. The SFT group received SFT by a trained therapist in addition to conventional chemotherapy; the family of each patient received SFT four times (once every two weeks). Both groups were assessed by the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) on admission and one month after the end of SFT.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the SFT group showed significant decreases in all factor scores of FAD (P<0.05); the SFT group had significantly lower scores of problem solving, communication, roles, affective involvement, behavior control, and general functioning than the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the SFT group had significantly increased FES-CV scores of cohesion, emotional expression, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-recreational orientation and a significantly decreased score of conflict after treatment (P<0.05), and the SFT group was significantly superior to the control group in terms of these items (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSFT could promote beneficial family changes in children with hematological tumors by improving the family function and internal environment, which would increase the long-term chemotherapy compliance of these children and their parents.