The changes and general alarm of the current COVID-19 pandemic have amplified the sense of precariousness and vulnerability for family members who, in addition to the emotional trauma of the cancer diagnosis, add the distress and fear of the risks associated with infection. The primary objectives of the present study were to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parents of pediatric cancer patients, and the level of stress, anxiety, and the child’s quality of life perceived by the parents during the COVID-19 epidemic. The parents of 45 consecutive children with solid and hematological tumors were enrolled. Four questionnaires (Impact of Event Scale-Revised – IES-R; Perceived Stress Scale – PSS; Spielberger State – Trait Anxiety Inventory – STAI-Y; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory – PedsQL) were administered to the parents at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. A 75% of parents exhibited remarkable levels of anxiety, with 60 subjects in state scale and 45 subjects in trait scale having scores that reached and exceeded the STAI-Y cut off. The bivariate matrix of correlation found a significant positive correlation between the IES-R and PSS scores (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the PSS and PedsQL (emotional needs) scale (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between IES-R and STAI-Y (P < 0.001). The results confirm that parents of pediatric cancer patients have a high psychological risk for post-traumatic symptoms, high stress levels, and the presence of clinically significant levels of anxiety.

Background. The changes and general alarm of the current COVID-19 pandemic have amplified the sense of precariousness and vulnerability for family members who, in addition to the emotional trauma of the cancer diagnosis, add the distress and fear of the risks associated with infection. The primary objectives of the present study was to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parents of pediatric cancer patients, and to investigate the level of stress, anxiety, and the child’s quality of life perceived by the parents during the Covid-19 epidemic. Methods. The parents of 45 consecutive children with solid and haematological tumors were enrolled. Four questionnaires (Impact of Event Scale-Revised - IES-R ; Perceived Stress Scale - PSS; Spielberger State - Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI-Y ; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - PedsQL) were administered to the parents at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. Results. 75% of parents exhibited remarkable levels of anxiety, with 60 subjects in state scale and 45 subjects in trait scale having scores that reached and exceeded the STAI-Y cut off. The bivariate matrix of correlation (Figure 1) found a strong significant positive correlation between the IES-R and PSS scores (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlations between the PSS and PedsQL (emotional needs) scale (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation between IES-R and STAI-Y (P < 0.001). Conclusion. The results confirm that parents of pediatric cancer patients have a high psychological risk for post-traumatic symptoms, high stress levels, and the presence of clinically significant levels of anxiety.

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement has become an important health care outcome even in oncological pediatric scenario. During radiation therapy care path, pediatric patients and their relatives may suffer from emotional and psychosocial distress not only related to cancer diagnosis, but also due to the procedure and the required daily routine. Despite the high prevalence of psychosocial consequences in this setting, instruments that inquire pediatric HRQOL and healthcare satisfaction have rarely been studied in Italy. Purpose of this study was to investigate reliability and linguistic validation of the PedsQL™ healthcare satisfaction Hematology/Oncology module from its original English version to Italian language. Methods Three phases standard procedure of cross-culture adaptation were used to create Italian version of PedsQL™ healthcare satisfaction Hematology/Oncology module. Forward translations and backward translations were performed. Finally, a pilot-testing for understandability of the 'pre-final' version was conducted with parents of children attending our Radiotherapy Center using two methodologies of Cognitive Interviewing (“Thinkaloud Interviews” and “Respondent Debriefing”), in order to obtain the final Italian version of the PedsQL™ healthcare satisfaction Hematology/Oncology module. Results Twenty-five parents (2 father, 23 mothers) were recruited during their children’s radiotherapy treatment and the grammatically and conceptually acceptable pre-final version of the PedsQL™ Healthcare Satisfaction Hematology/Oncology Module was administered. The questionnaire was well understood reflecting its linguistic adaptation. Compliance with questionnaire administration was optimal. All subjects stated that the questions were interesting to express their opinion, most of them reported that all the questions of each section were clearly comprehensible and easy to understand, suggesting minimal changes that were double-checked with back translation. Furthermore, six of them spontaneously asked to complete the questionnaire in order to review the assistance received during radiotherapy. Conclusion Our Italian version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Healthcare Satisfaction Hematology/Oncology Module seems to be a valid and functional instrument to indagate Healthcare Satisfaction.

Objectives: Approximately 50% of children with cancer experience pain. Pain may be due to the presence of the tumour or to effects of the different treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) utilized to treat it. Drawings can be useful tools to collect hidden messages. Methods: The children drawings collected at the Division of Pediatric Oncology of the Catholic University in Rome have been reviewed and analysed by the psychological staff. Results: Pain is an unpleasant experience along with psychological and emotional impact causing psychosocial consequences including depression, anxiety, and mood disturbances. Our experience has shown spontaneous drawing with metaphorical representations is an invaluable aid able to express hidden feelings of children. Discussion: Along with the use of proven scales and techniques for assessing pain, drawings can enhance the modes of children’ communication on their deep emotions and fears.