Quality of life and burnout: children and adolescents in cancer treatment; [Calidad de vida y agotamiento: niños y adolescentes en tratamiento oncológico]

Autores organización

• David Andrade Fonseca

  Autor

Autores

• Casallas-Vega A.
• Pérez-Niño J.J.
• Hincapié-Carvajal J.A.
• Castañeda-González J.P.
• Herrera-Valladares S.R.
• Hernández-Zambrano S.M.

Unidades de investigación

• Cuidado de la Salud y Calidad de Vida

  

  Investigador

  Miguel Antonio Sanchez Cardenas

Resumen

Background: Pediatric cancer is a complex disease that requires interdisciplinary interventions. This study aims to describe the quality of life and exhaustion levels in children diagnosed with cancer, using validated instruments that reflect the pecu-liarities of this disease. Method: An observational analytical study was conducted on children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years with cancer. The PedsQL Cancer Module and FACIT-F instruments were used to assess quality of life and fatigue, respectively, with statistical analysis performed to identify correlations and develop an explanatory model. Results: Notable physical and psychological symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, hyporexia, irritability, and sadness were identified. The Peds-QL and FACIT-F indicated a diminished quality of life. There was high concordance between the perceptions of children and their parents, except in the anxiety related to procedures, where children reported higher levels. These symptoms reflect the impact of cancer treatment on children’s well-being. The concordance in evaluations suggests that parents have a good understanding of these experiences, highlighting the relevance of psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life throu-gh an adequate support network. Conclusions: It is crucial that pediatric cancer treatment addresses not only medical aspects but also the comprehensive support for the emotional and psychosocial well-being of the patients and their families. © 2024 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.

Keywords

• Cancer; Fatigue; Pediatrics; Quality of life;Adolescent; Anxiety; Burnout, Psychological; Child; Child, Preschool; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Male; Neoplasms; Parents; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; adolescent; Article; burnout; cancer therapy; child; exhaustion; fatigue; Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Scale; human; irritability; malignant neoplasm; nausea; observational study; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; preschool child; psychosocial intervention; quality of life; sadness; school child; social well-being; anxiety; burnout; child parent relation; fatigue; female; male; neoplasm; psychology; questionnaire; therapy