Background: Recent advances in cancer screening and treatment have resulted in a decrease in mortality rates in children and adolescents. However, despite the improved prognosis, the course of cancer treatment continues to be a very stressful experience in the life of a child.
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the occurrence and severity of treatment-related symptoms manifested by children and adolescents undergoing active cancer treatment and to examine the relationships between therapy-related symptoms, depressive symptoms, and quality of life of these pediatric patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and 135 Hong Kong Chinese children (9- to 16-year-olds) who were admitted for treatment of cancer in a pediatric oncology unit were invited to participate in the study.
Results: Results indicated that children and adolescents receiving combined cancer treatment generally experienced greater symptom occurrence and severity. In addition, children reporting greater symptom occurrence and severity experienced higher levels of depression and a lower level of quality of life. The study revealed that therapy-related symptoms are a strong predictor of quality of life of children and adolescents hospitalized for cancer treatment.
Conclusions: Cancer and its treatments significantly affect the psychosocial well-being and quality of life of children and adolescent hospitalized for cancer care. Therapy-related symptoms can be a useful indicator for screening those pediatric patients who are likely to exhibit psychosocial distress or are at high risk of depression.
Implications For Practice: It is essential for nurses to be sensitive and knowledgeable about the therapy-related symptoms of cancer treatment and their effects on children and adolescents to promote the psychosocial well-being of these patients and enhance their quality of life.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0b013e31824062ec | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Heterogeneity in Fluorescence-Stained Sperm Membrane Patterns and Their Dynamic Changes Towards Fertilization in Mice.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
January 2025
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 400-8510 Kofu, Japan.
Background: Sperm represent a heterogeneous population crucial for male reproductive success. Additionally, sperm undergo dynamic changes during maturation and capacitation. Despite these well-established processes, the complex nature of sperm heterogeneity and membrane dynamics remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelf-reported health status of patients with acute retinal ischemia and stroke related hemianopia.
Eur Stroke J
January 2025
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Background: We aimed to assess impairments on health-related quality of life, and mental health resulting from Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) with monocular visual field loss and posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS) with full or partial hemianopia using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Methods: In a prospective study, consecutive patients with acute RAO on fundoscopy and PCIS on imaging were recruited during their surveillance on a stroke unit over a period of 15 months. Baseline characteristics were determined from medical records and interviews.
Should All Doctors Undergo Mandatory Life Support Training?
Br J Hosp Med (Lond)
January 2025
Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine, The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK.
Advanced life support certification has traditionally been the gold standard of resuscitation training for doctors and has been shown to improve outcomes from cardiac arrest. In 2021, Health Education England removed named courses from mandatory Foundational Programme competencies, which has resulted in capping of reimbursement and reduced access to courses. This represents a drop in educational standards which is particularly concerning when the medical school curriculum has been shown to deliver inconsistent, poor-quality resuscitation training.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOnce-Weekly Insulin: A Breakthrough in Diabetes Management or an Unresolved Challenge?
Br J Hosp Med (Lond)
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
The advent of once-weekly insulin icodec is a promising development in the care of individuals with diabetes. These once-weekly formulations aimed to improve patient adherence and quality of life for patients who find daily injection administration challenging. Insulin icodec has demonstrated comparable glycemic control to conventionally used daily basal insulins, such as insulin glargine and degludec, in the ONWARDS clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring the Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options of Multiple Sclerosis.
J Integr Neurosci
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
The complicated neurological syndrome known as multiple sclerosis (MS) is typified by demyelination, inflammation, and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). Managing this crippling illness requires an understanding of the complex interactions between neurophysiological systems, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic methods. A complex series of processes, including immunological dysregulation, inflammation, and neurodegeneration, are involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!