Abstract
Methods
Caregivers of 89 newly diagnosed children completed the child behavior checklist, the pediatric quality of life inventory
(PedsQL™ 4.0), the Parenting Stress Index, and the SF-36 questionnaire at diagnosis, and again 3 and 6 months into treatment. They
were compared with a group of age- and sex-matched controls from general community.
(PedsQL™ 4.0), the Parenting Stress Index, and the SF-36 questionnaire at diagnosis, and again 3 and 6 months into treatment. They
were compared with a group of age- and sex-matched controls from general community.
Results
Significantly worse HrQoL in both children and their caregivers and greater parenting stress were noted in the cancer group
than the controls during the first 6 months. Children with cancer were found to have significantly more internalizing behavioral
problems and somatic complaints, especially those younger than 12 years old. After starting chemotherapy, significant decrease
in parenting stress and improvements of both caregivers and children’s HrQoL were noted within the first 6 months, although
not to the level comparable with normal controls.
than the controls during the first 6 months. Children with cancer were found to have significantly more internalizing behavioral
problems and somatic complaints, especially those younger than 12 years old. After starting chemotherapy, significant decrease
in parenting stress and improvements of both caregivers and children’s HrQoL were noted within the first 6 months, although
not to the level comparable with normal controls.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-012-0176-9
- Authors
- Ming-Horng Tsai, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Jen-Fu Hsu, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Wen-Jiun Chou, Division of Child Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Chao-Ping Yang, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Tang-Her Jaing, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Iou-Jih Hung, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Hwey-Fang Liang, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Hsuan-Rong Huang, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Yu-Shu Huang, Division of Pediatric Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343