Assessment of health related quality of life in children and adolescents suffering from cancer on chemotherapy and off treatment

• Main Authors: Mohammad Faranoush, Mohammad Ali Shahbabaie Ashtiani, Raheb Ghorbani, Azim Mehrvar, Amir Abbas Hedayati Asl, Maryam Tashvighi, Parvaneh Vosough, Elaheh Rahmani, Maryam Meimari
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Semnan Univeristy of Medical Sciences 2012-12-01
• Series: Majallah-i ̒Ilmī-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Simnān
• Subjects: Neoplasms; Child; Quality of life; Drug therapy; Adolescent
• Online Access: http://koomeshjournal.ir/browse.php?a_id=1618&sid=1&slc_lang=fa

Introduction: Better perception of Quality of Life in children suffering from cancer and their common complications help us to apply supportive and psychological interventions. The current study assessed Health Related Quality of Life in children with cancer on chemotherapy and off treatment and compared children’s report with their parents’ proxy report.Materials and Methods: 100 children aged 8 to 18 years on chemotherapy including 58 males and 42 females, with the mean age of 12.02 years (SD=2.54) and 51 off treatment children including 23 males and 28 females, with the mean age of 13.01 years (SD=3.26) and their parents completed PedsQL Cancer Module questionnaire. The mean total score and Health Related Quality Of Life subscales were calculated and compared within study groups.Results: Parents reported their children’s Quality Of Life and most of its subscales statically lower than children themselves both on and off chemotherapy (P <0.05). The females had a lower Quality Of Life by self report on Procedural Anxiety and by parents’ report on Procedural Anxiety, Physical Appearance Perception and Communication subscales (P <0.05). On chemotherapy children had significant lower Quality Of Life in Pain & Hurt and Nausea subscales by self report (p: 0.015 and <0.001, respectively) and lower Quality Of Life in Pain and Hurt, Nausea, Worry and Communication subscales by parent’s proxy report (P <0.05).Conclusion: Parents’ report of their children’s Quality Of Life could not be substituted their self report. On chemotherapy and off treatment Children have their specific complications. Considering gender differences of children’s problems suffering from cancer, their psychological and supportive interventions should be designed and applied considering their gender