Hsien–Ting P et al. – The study evaluated differences of QoL, distress behavior, and fatigue among children and adolescents with cancer and also identified QoL predictors. In this study, fatigue, distress behaviors, and diagnosis at an older age were associated with poorer QoL. Better QoL was associated with less general fatigue and relationship distress, greater time since diagnosis, and living in nuclear family.

Methods

• A cross–sectional descriptive study involving 150 participants diagnosed with cancer (age range: 7–18 years) with no developmental delay or mental illness.

Results

• Participants in age group 16 to 18 reported lower school functioning and experienced more general and sleep or rest fatigue.
• Parameters associated with poorer QoL were fatigue and distress behaviors and parameters associated with better QoL were diagnosis at a younger age, greater time since diagnosis, and family structure.