Education and Intervention

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 2 views

The Impact of Cancer on the Quality of Life of Children: A Comparative Study

Introduction

Cancer is a disease that affects not only the individual but also their family, particularly children. The long and tiring cancer treatment process can have a significant impact on the quality of life of children of sufferers, affecting their physical, emotional, social, and school conditions. This study aims to compare the quality of life of children with cancer with their healthy siblings to understand how cancer affects their lives.

Background

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and its impact on children is a significant concern. Children with cancer often experience a range of physical, emotional, and social challenges that can affect their quality of life. The family's support system, healthcare system, and professional staff play a crucial role in helping children with cancer overcome these challenges and maintain their quality of life.

Methodology

This study was conducted using a cross-sectional study method in May-July 2012, involving 46 children with an age range of 5-18 years. Children with cancer filled in the PedsQL 3.0 and 4.0 questionnaires, while healthy siblings filled in the PedsQL 4.0. The PedsQL is a widely used tool to assess the quality of life of children and adolescents.

Results

The results of this study showed a significant difference in the quality of life between children with cancer and healthy siblings. Children with cancer had a much lower score in all aspects of quality of life, including:

*** Physical Function: **Children with cancer had a score of 36.9, while healthy siblings had a score of 80.7. This indicates that children with cancer experience significant physical limitations and challenges. *** Emotional Function: **Children with cancer had a score of 40.4, while healthy siblings had a score of 69.3. This suggests that children with cancer experience emotional distress and challenges. *** Social Function: **Children with cancer had a score of 71.5, while healthy siblings had a score of 93.9. This indicates that children with cancer experience social challenges and difficulties. *** School Function: **Children with cancer had a score of 20.7, while healthy siblings had a score of 74.2. This suggests that children with cancer experience significant challenges in their school life and learning process. *** Total Quality Score Life: **Children with cancer had a score of 42.1, while healthy siblings had a score of 79.3. This indicates that children with cancer experience a lower quality of life compared to their healthy siblings.

Discussion

The results of this study show that cancer has a significant impact on the quality of life of children, particularly in physical, emotional, social, and school functions. The school function is the most affected area in children with cancer, indicating that treatment and cancer can inhibit the learning process and child development. This study also found that there was no significant difference in the quality of life between children with cancer and hematological malignancy and solid tumors. This suggests that the type of cancer has no significant influence on the quality of life of children.

Conclusion

The results of this study are important to understand in order to help improve the quality of life of children with cancer. Family support, health system, and professional staff are very important to help children with cancer overcome various challenges and maintain their quality of life. Appropriate education and intervention can help children and their families in dealing with cancer and minimize their negative impacts on the quality of life.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Family Support: Families of children with cancer should receive support and guidance to help them cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.
Healthcare System: The healthcare system should provide comprehensive care and support to children with cancer, including physical, emotional, and social support.
Professional Staff: Professional staff, including doctors, nurses, and social workers, should receive training and education on how to support children with cancer and their families.
Education and Intervention: Appropriate education and intervention should be provided to children and their families to help them cope with cancer and minimize its negative impacts on their quality of life.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

Small Sample Size: The sample size of this study was small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Cross-Sectional Design: The study used a cross-sectional design, which may not capture the dynamic nature of cancer treatment and its impact on the quality of life of children.

Future Directions

Future studies should aim to:

Increase Sample Size: Increase the sample size to improve the generalizability of the findings.
Use Longitudinal Design: Use a longitudinal design to capture the dynamic nature of cancer treatment and its impact on the quality of life of children.
Explore Interventions: Explore the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of children with cancer.

By understanding the impact of cancer on the quality of life of children, we can develop effective interventions to support them and their families.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Impact of Cancer on the Quality of Life of Children

Q: What is the impact of cancer on the quality of life of children?

A: Cancer can have a significant impact on the quality of life of children, affecting their physical, emotional, social, and school functions. Children with cancer may experience physical limitations, emotional distress, social challenges, and difficulties in their school life and learning process.

Q: What are the most affected areas in children with cancer?

A: The most affected areas in children with cancer are physical function, emotional function, social function, and school function. Children with cancer may experience significant challenges in these areas, which can affect their overall quality of life.

Q: Is the type of cancer a factor in the quality of life of children?

A: No, the type of cancer is not a significant factor in the quality of life of children. This study found that there was no significant difference in the quality of life between children with cancer and hematological malignancy and solid tumors.

Q: What can be done to improve the quality of life of children with cancer?

A: Several things can be done to improve the quality of life of children with cancer, including:

Providing family support and guidance
Offering comprehensive care and support through the healthcare system
Training and educating professional staff on how to support children with cancer and their families
Providing appropriate education and intervention to help children and their families cope with cancer and minimize its negative impacts on their quality of life

Q: What are some recommendations for families of children with cancer?

A: Families of children with cancer should receive support and guidance to help them cope with the challenges of cancer treatment. This may include:

Receiving education and training on how to care for their child with cancer
Having access to emotional and social support
Being connected with other families who have children with cancer
Having access to resources and services that can help them navigate the healthcare system

Q: What are some recommendations for healthcare providers?

A: Healthcare providers should receive training and education on how to support children with cancer and their families. This may include:

Learning about the physical, emotional, and social challenges that children with cancer may face
Developing skills to provide emotional and social support to children with cancer and their families
Learning about the importance of family-centered care and how to provide it
Having access to resources and services that can help them navigate the healthcare system

Q: What are some recommendations for schools?

A: Schools should provide support and accommodations for children with cancer to help them succeed academically and socially. This may include:

Providing modified assignments and accommodations to help children with cancer keep up with their schoolwork
Offering emotional and social support to children with cancer and their families
Having access to resources and services that can help them navigate the healthcare system
Developing policies and procedures to support children with cancer and their families

Q: What are some recommendations for researchers?

A: Researchers should continue to study the impact of cancer on the quality of life of children and develop effective interventions to support them and their families. This may include:

Conducting longitudinal studies to capture the dynamic nature of cancer treatment and its impact on the quality of life of children
Exploring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of children with cancer
Developing and testing new interventions to support children with cancer and their families
Disseminating research findings to healthcare providers, families, and schools to inform practice and policy.