Purpose: To develop an evidence-based decision aid for parents of children with cancer and to help guide them in the use ofcomplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer care.

Methods: This study had a mixed research design. The needs of parents were investigated by survey and focus group. Asystematic review and meta-analysis were performed on the effectiveness of CAM using Grading of RecommendationsAssessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Clinical experts were interviewed and a decision aid on CAM treatmentfor pain was developed.

Results: Parents emphasized the importance of reliable information on CAM, focusing primarily on communication and a broadspectrum of complaints related to cancer treatment. The decision aid on CAM for pain included five modalities based on 11randomized control trials (RCTs): hypnotherapy, mind-body techniques, massage, healing touch, and music therapy. Metaanalysis could be performed on hypnotherapy, which significantly reduced cancer-related procedural pain compared withstandard care (MD, − 1.37; 95% CI, − 1.60, − 1.15; P < 0.00001) and attention control (MD, − 1.13; 95% CI, − 1.34, − 0.94;P < 0.00001), and massage, demonstrating no effect on pain compared with standard care (MD, − 0.77; 95% CI, − 1.82, 0.28;P = 0.15). Research evidence and supplementary information from clinical practice and patient were incorporated in a websitebased decision aid.

Conclusions: An evidence-based decision aid was developed to support parents of children with cancer in making decisions aboutCAM for pain management. Next steps will be to expand the website to include additional childhood cancer-related complaintsand to evaluate its use in practice