Parental views regarding symptoms in children with cancer and recognition of cancer-related fatigue

Abstract

OBJECTIVES This descriptive study aimed to assess parental knowledge regarding cancer-related symptoms and their attitude regarding fatigue in children treated for cancer. METHODS This study included 89 parents of children with cancer who were being treated in the pediatric oncology clinics of four hospitals in Izmir. A questionnaire form consisting of 13 items was used to collect data. RESULTS Parents observed severe alopecia in 48.3%, fatigue in 49.4%, nausea-vomiting in 34.8%, anxiety in 24.7%, moderate taste change in 23.6%; constipation/diarrhea in 28.1%, pain in 7%, sleeping difficulty in 12.4%, and rare respiratory distress in 7.9%. Parents reported cancer-related fatigue severely affecting their children's school activity in 43.8%, friendships in 39.3%, psychology in 37.1%, play activity in 36%, energy in 29.2%, and family relationships in 28.1%. CONCLUSION We determined that parents were able to assess their child's cancer-related symptoms, as well as the fatigue that affected their child's quality of life.

Keywords

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Çocukların kansere bağlı yaşadıkları semptomlar ve yorgunluğa ebeveyn bakışı

Öz

AMAÇ Tanımlayıcı çalışma, pediatrik onkoloji kliniklerinde tedavi gören çocukların ebeveynlerinin kansere bağlı semptomlara ilişkin gözlemlerini ve yorgunlukla ilgili görüşlerini belirlemek amacı ile yapıldı. GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM Araştırma, İzmir ilinde bulunan dört hastanenin pediatrik onkoloji kliniklerinde çocukları yatan 89 ebeveyn ile yapıldı. Araştırma verileri 13 sorudan oluşan anket formu kullanılarak toplandı. BULGULAR Ebeveynlerin çocuklarında, saç dökülmesini çok sık (%48.3); yorgunluk (%49.4), bulantı-kusma (%34.8), kaygı-endişe (%24.7) ve tad değişikliğini (%23.6) orta düzeyde; kabızlıkishal (%28.1), ağrı (%27), uyku güçlüğü (%12.4) ve solunum güçlüğünü (%7.9) çok az düzeyde gözlemledikleri saptandı. Çocukların kanser yorgunluğu nedeniyle, %43.8'inin ders çalışma aktiviteleri, %39.3'ünün arkadaşlık ilişkisi, %37.1'inin moral, %36'sının oyun aktiviteleri, %29.2'sinin yaşam enerjisi ve %28.1'inin aile ilişkisinin çok fazla etkilendiği saptandı. SONUÇ Ebeveynlerin çocuklarında kansere bağlı semptomları tanımlayabildikleri ve yorgunluğun çocuklarının yaşamı üzerinde önemli düzeyde etkisi olduğunu düşündükleri bulunmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kansere bağlı yorgunluk, kanser, çocuk, ebeveyn

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