Premium
Determinants of quality of life outcomes for survivors of pediatric brain tumors
Author(s) -
Barrera Maru,
Atenafu Eshetu G.,
Schulte Fiona,
Bartels Ute,
Sung Lillian,
Janzen Laura,
Chung Joanna,
Cataudella Danielle,
Hancock Kelly,
Saleh Amani,
Strother Douglas,
McConnell Dina,
Downie Andrea,
Hukin Juliette,
Zelcer Shayna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.26481
Subject(s) - medicine , proxy (statistics) , demographics , quality of life (healthcare) , cognition , emotional well being , emotional distress , clinical psychology , gerontology , pediatrics , demography , psychiatry , anxiety , nursing , machine learning , sociology , computer science
To describe the quality of life (QOL) of pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTSs) prospectively and to identify potential medical, personal and family contextual factors associated with QOL. Methods Ninety‐one PBTSs (8–16 years) who were off treatment and attending a regular classroom participated. Self‐ and caregiver‐proxy–reported on QOL at baseline, 2 and 8 months. At baseline, cognitive, executive function, attention and memory, medical and demographics information were attained. Results Significant improvements over time in PBTS's emotional QOL were self‐ and proxy‐reported ( P < 0.01) and global QOL proxy‐reported ( P = 0.04). Receiving cranial irradiation therapy (CIT) and poor behavioral regulation predicted poor global QOL scores reported by both informants ( P < 0.017). Poor behavioral regulation also predicted poor self‐reported school functioning, and poor proxy‐reported emotional and social QOL ( P < 0.037). Boys reported better emotional QOL ( P = 0.029), and PBTSs over 11 years old were reported to have better emotion and school‐related QOL. Finally, being non‐White and having low income predicted poor self‐reported global and emotional QOL ( P = 0.041). Conclusions Receiving CIT, having poor behavioral regulation, being a female, under 11 years old and coming from low‐income, non‐White families place PBTSs at risk for poor QOL.