Table 3.

Five conceptual core components of the FOCUS+ and iFOCUS interventions

Core concept	Goals
Supporting family involvement, communication, and mutual communication (F)	- Discuss and support communication - Encourage mutual support and teamwork in a planned program of care - Identify family strengths - Help children in the family as needed
Supporting outlook and meaning (O)	- Help dyads share fears and concerns - Discuss positive and negative feelings of dyads - Educate dyads about different kind of feelings and attitudes - Encourage dyads to set realistic short-term goals
Increasing coping effectiveness (C)	- Help dyads deal with overwhelming stress - Discuss and support active coping strategies by dyads - Assist caregivers to manage the demands of illness
Reducing uncertainty (U)	- Educate dyads about disease and treatments as needed - Teach dyads how they can obtain additional information - Help dyads learn ways to live with uncertainty
Teaching symptom management and giving the confidence to handle specific tasks and problems (S)	- Assess symptoms in patients and family caregiver - Teach self-care strategies to manage symptoms (e.g. ways to manage reactions and side effects associated with the illness, treatments, and adjustment) - Help dyads identify relevant resources in the community (community services and support)