Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Dergisi
2014 , Vol 57 , Num 1
Does the quality of life of children with cancer and their parents differ from that of patients with other diseases?
Atatürk Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Yakutiye Araştırma Hastanesi 1Pediatri Asistanı, 2Pediatri Yardımcı Doçenti,
3Pediatri Profesörü *İletişim: drzuhalk@hotmail.com
In this study, we aimed to investigate the quality of life (QoL) of children
with cancer and their parents separately and determine any differences
from the control group comprised of patients with other chronic illnesses.
Seventy-two cancer survivors or patients with ongoing cancer treatment and
72 patients with chronic diseases other than cancer were enrolled in the
study; they ranged in age from 4-16 years. Short Form (SF)-36 Quality of
Life Questionnaire for parents and the Turkish versions of Kiddy-Kindl (for
ages 4-7), Kid-Kindl (for ages 8-11), and Kiddo-Kindl (for ages 12-16) were
applied. The mothers in the cancer patient group had significantly better
scores on the physical role functioning dimension compared with the control
group (p<0.05). In the cancer patient group, the fathers had significantly
better scores on physical functioning, energy, emotional well-being, pain,
and general health compared to the mothers (p<0.05). When the children’s
scores were evaluated, only family dimension was significantly better in the
cancer patient group than in controls. In the cancer patient group, there was
a significant correlation between the QoL scores of children and the number
of siblings. In conclusion, the QoL of children with cancer and their parents
has been adversely affected; however, not more than the deterioration in the
QoL of individuals with other chronic diseases. Children with cancer scored
better on QoL scales evaluating patient-family interactions. QoL was seen to
increase when the number of siblings increased. The negative effects of the
disease were greater among the mothers than fathers.
Anahtar Kelimeler :
yaşam kalitesi, çocukluk çağı kanserleri, anne ve baba.