Nonrandomized study.

"Normalized" Camping Experience. One-week camping trip, with assessment of benefits to patients and staff.

Condition
HIV Infection Neoplasm

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  9999

Cancer has a major impact on the psychosocial health of children and their families. As more children survive cancer, it is imperative that they be equipped to lead as normal a life as possible. Positive self-esteem can be enhanced by support from peers and family. Interactive social skills are frequently acquired during childhood from experiences such as camping. Children with serious diseases like cancer may be unable to have access to such activities. The goal of this protocol is to provide a normalized experience of camping for children with cancer and to assess its impact on their psychological well being.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER
Children 7-17 years of age who are currently being treated for cancer or are up to 3 years post therapy. OR Young adults with cancer (YACers) who are acting as counselors at Camp Fantastic.
All children/young adults will be selected for camp after careful screening by a multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors. While the state of the child's health will certainly be considered there will be no exclusions for:
-Patients who are receiving intramuscular, intrathecal, oral or intravenous medications or blood products.
-Patients who have had amputations or have other physical defects.
-Patients who become febrile and neutropenic at the onset or during the week of camp will stay at camp on antibiotic therapy providing their condition remains stable.
CHILDREN WITH HIV INFECTION
Children with HIV infection and who are three years of age or older.
Because this will be a family based experience, siblings of the patient, who are either infected or uninfected with HIV, as well as their foster, adoptive or biological parents are also eligible for participation in the weekend.
Children need to be medically stable as approved by the protocol chairperson.
At the discretion of the multidisciplinary committee consisting of medical and program directors, special exceptions may be made for patients with extenuating circumstances.
All children will be officially enrolled and will have an NIH Clinical Center Patient Care Number. The enrollment of a child, signing of protocol consent, and completion of admission paperwork is done in person but under extenuating circumstances it may be done over the phone after the paperwork has been mailed to the parent/guardian. Extenuating circumstances would include a last minute application to camp after the trip for camp screenings in Norfolk or Richmond has been completed.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Children with a medical diagnosis other than cancer, HIV infection or their related disorders.

Maryland
      National Cancer Institute (NCI), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  830022; 83-C-0022
Record last reviewed:  January 1, 2005
Last Updated:  January 4, 2005
Record first received:  November 3, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00001186
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08