Quality of Life and Chemotherapy-related Symptoms of Turkish Cancer Children Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

This cross-sectional and descriptive study was designed to determine symptoms emerging due to chemotherapy treatment and their effects on children's quality of life. The research was carried out between February 2008 and February 2009 at the pediatric oncology clinics in four hospitals, focusing on 93 patients receiving chemotherapy. A survey form, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) were used as data collection tools. Chi-square and Student t tests were performed for data analysis. Some 51.6% of the children were aged 13-15 years old, and 51.8% were boys and 50.5% were diagnosed as having solid tumors. There were significant relations between: antimetabolite chemotherapeutics and feeling irritable and worrying (p=0.001, p=0.030); vinkoalkaloid and numbness/tingling in hands/feet (p=0.043); antracyclines and lack of energy and skin changes (p=0.021, p=0.004); and corticosteroids and lack of appetite, nausea and sadness (p=0.008, p=0.009, p=0.009). Several symptoms such as feeling sad, worrying and feeling irritable caused a significant decrease in the total domain of quality of life scores (p=0.034, p=0.012, p=0.010, respectively). Chemotherapeutic drugs can cause symptoms that can seriously affect quality of life in children.

Symptom Frequency of Children with Cancer and Parent Quality of Life in Turkey

“…While there are studies conducted in order to evaluate the life quality of cancer patients in Turkey and the world, there is not adequate number of study evaluating the life quality of paediatric cancer patient relatives in Turkey (Tanir, 2011;Arslan et al, 2013). For this reason the aim of the research is; to determine the effect of symptom frequency of cancer children on life quality of their parents.…”

Developing Scales for the Assessment of Fatigue in Turkish Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 and their Parents

“…In another study, 86% of parents stated that their children had physical fatigue and 76% complained about the decrease in their actions (Jalmsell, 2006). In a study, it was determined that 69.8% of children had the symptom of fatigue and 56.7% in another (Arslan et al, 2013;Chan and Ismail, 2014).…”

Developing a Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 7-12 for Children and Parents

“…In another study, 86% of parents stated that their children had physical fatigue and 76% complained about the decrease in their actions (Jalmsell, 2006). In a study, it was determined that 69.8% of children had the symptom of fatigue and 56.7% in another (Arslan et al, 2013;Chan and Ismail, 2014).…”