Chemotherapy-related fatigue in childhood cancer: correlates, consequences, and coping strategies
Child; Humans; Parents; Questionnaires; Adaptation; Psychological; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects; Fatigue/chemically induced; Neoplasms/drug therapy/psychology
The aim of this research is to examine the experience and impact of chemotherapy-related fatigue in recently diagnosed pediatric oncology patients. A repeated-measures, within-subjects, mixed (quantitative plus qualitative) design was used to prospectively assess fatigue during early chemotherapy cycles and to compare fatigue to depressive symptoms. Parental interviews collected concurrently were analyzed for descriptions of the child's fatigue and mood states and for strategies to cope with fatigue. Results indicated a significant correlation between fatigue and depression, but qualitative analyses suggested that the 2 phenomena may be unique and distinguishable. Qualitative analyses of parent interviews also identified specific strategies that were frequently used in response to high levels of fatigue. The findings illustrate the significant impact of chemotherapy-related fatigue in children being treated for cancer. The study also provides guidance for the assessment of fatigue and related symptoms and identifies specific strategies for coping with fatigue.
2008
Whitsett SF; Gudmundsdottir M; Davies B; McCarthy P; Friedman D
Journal Of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
2008
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/1043454208315546" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1177/1043454208315546</a>
Parents' views of cancer-directed therapy for children with no realistic chance for cure
Child; Female; Humans; infant; Male; Adult; Parent-Child Relations; Questionnaires; Middle Aged; adolescent; Preschool; Terminally Ill/psychology; infant; Newborn; Parents/psychology; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects; Neoplasms/drug therapy/psychology
PURPOSE: Previous literature suggests that parents often wish to continue cancer-directed therapy for their children with incurable cancer. We assessed parents' experiences with treatment for their children with cancer and no realistic chance of cure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We administered questionnaires to 141 parents of children with cancer who died after receiving care at one of two cancer centers. Parents were asked whether the child benefited and suffered from treatment administered after the parent recognized that cure was not a realistic expectation, and whether they would recommend cancer-directed therapy to other families of children with advanced cancer. RESULTS: Fifty-three (38%) of 141 children received cancer-directed therapy after the parent recognized that the child had no realistic chance for cure. Most of these parents felt that their child had experienced at least some suffering resulting from the therapy (61%, 31 of 51) and little to no benefit (57%, 29 of 51). Fifty-one (38%) of 135 parents overall would recommend standard chemotherapy and 46 (33%) of 140 would recommend experimental chemotherapy to families of children with advanced cancer. Even parents who would not recommend standard chemotherapy generally felt the physician should offer it (91%, 88 of 97). Parents who reported that their children experienced suffering resulting from cancer-directed therapy (odds ratio = 0.46; P = .02) were less likely to recommend standard chemotherapy to other families. CONCLUSION: Although many parents choose treatment for their children with incurable cancer, bereaved parents often would not recommend such therapy. Parents who felt their children suffered as a result of cancer treatment were particularly unlikely to recommend it.
2008
Mack JW; Joffe S; Hilden JM; Watterson J; Moore C; Weeks JC; Wolfe J
Journal Of Clinical Oncology
2008
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2007.15.6059" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1200/JCO.2007.15.6059</a>
[Management of cancer pain in children]
Child; Humans; Pain Measurement; PedPal Lit; Neoplasms/complications; Analgesics/therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects; Chemistry; Pharmaceutical; Iatrogenic Disease; English Abstract; Pain/drug therapy/etiology
Pain and cancer cannot be dissociated. A particular feature observed in children is that the child exhibits a certain psychomotor atony with increasing pain. The child complains less and less, making it difficult to recognize the degree of suffering and provide adequate relief. The most painful events for the child are iatrogenic: local care, puncture, injection, infusion, sample taking. The healthcare team must limit such events to the strict minimum.
2006
Bourdon O; Brion F
Annales pharmaceutiques françaises
2006
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Journal Article
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003450906752890?via%3Dihub">10.1016/s0003-4509(06)75289-0</a>
Treatment of pain in pediatric oncology: a Swedish nationwide survey
Child; Female; infant; Male; Pain Measurement; Education; Questionnaires; Sweden; Combined Modality Therapy; Education; Preschool; Non-U.S. Gov't; infant; Newborn; Human; Nursing; Support; Adolescence; Neoplasms/complications; continuing; Medical; Drug Administration Routes; Physician's Practice Patterns; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects; continuing; Hospital Departments; Morphine/adverse effects; Pain/etiology/therapy; Radiotherapy/adverse effects
Pain treatment is a crucial aspect in the care of children with cancer and there are many studies demonstrating inefficient pain treatment. In this study, questionnaires dealing with pain treatment of children with malignant diseases were sent to all (47) pediatric departments in Sweden. The aims of this nationwide survey were to evaluate the extent and causes of pain, the use of methods for pain evaluation (e.g. analysis of type of pain and monitoring of pain intensity), principles of pain management, side effects of pain treatment and the educational needs of physicians and nurses regarding these issues. The response rate was 100%. Answers from physicians and nurses reveal that pain is a common symptom during different periods of cancer treatment. Pain due to treatment and procedures is a greater problem than pain due to the malignant disease itself. Instruments for the measurement of pain intensity and analysis of the type of pain are still rarely used. Most physicians (63%) follow the analgesic 'ladder' principle recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). According to a majority of physicians and nurses (72%), pain could be treated more effectively than it is presently, and 64% state that they need more time for the management of pain. Both physicians and nurses state that they need additional education in different areas of pain evaluation and pain treatment. Swedish treatment practices for the management of pediatric cancer pain roughly follow the published guidelines, but many improvements are still necessary.
1996
Ljungman G; Kreuger A; Gordh T; Berg T; Sorensen S; Rawal N
Pain
1996
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Journal Article
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3959(96)03193-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1016/s0304-3959(96)03193-4</a>