Relationship Between Parental Needs and Child’s Quality of Life (QoL) of Children Currently Undergoing Cancer Treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent perception of needs and their report of their child’s quality of life during the child’s cancer treatment. Parents are as much a part of the illness process when their children are diagnosed with cancer as the child themselves, experiencing varying degrees of psychological distress as they learn to adjust to their altered lifestyle (Gudmundsdottir et al., 2011; Sulkers et al., 2015). Parents experience stress when they feel unable to handle their own needs, and their distress can negatively influence their child’s quality of life (Gudmundsdottir et al., 2011; Sulkers et al., 2015). A pilot survey study recruited parents of children, ages 0 to 18, currently being treated with cancer. The survey consisted of demographic questions, a parent-report of child’s quality of life measure (Miami Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Scale, MPQOLQ), and a measure of parents’ perceived needs (Parents’ Needs Scale, PNS). Data collection is still in progress, but data from 11 parents were examined using Spearman Rank Correlations (rs) for all possible correlations between parent needs and child’s quality of life. Results of the Spearman correlation indicated that there was a statistically significant moderate correlation (p < .05), between emotional stability, a domain of the MPQOLQ, and the needs related to parenting in general (rs = -.730), parenting a sick child (rs = -.613), and overall parenting needs (rs = -.690). A statistically significant moderate correlation was also found between the needs related to parenting in general and overall QOL (rs = -.641). No significant correlations were found between the other domains and overall QOL with parent needs. This is the current results with more results to be presented during the AOTA conference. Findings showed that with greater parental needs, both generally and regarding their sick child, the emotional stability of the child decreases, possibly negatively affecting their overall quality of life. This study provides implications for OTs who work in pediatric oncology to provide compassionate, considerate, and conscious care for the parents as well, because they are significant to the child’s recovery process. OTs must be aware that overall functioning, adaptation, and adjustment of the child relies on the family system as a whole and not just one person (Robinson, Gerhardt, Vannatta, & Noll, 2007). OTs are well-equipped in providing parent education, caregiver training, and psychosocial services that can provide a positive and supportive environment for families to feel comforted and understood. The presence of OTs in the field of oncology is growing, but the needs greatly outweigh the involvement of OT services.

References

Gudmundsdottir, E., Schirren, M., & Boman, K. K. (2011). Psychological resilience and long-term distress in Swedish and Icelandic parents’ adjustment to childhood cancer. Acta Oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 50(3), 373–380. doi:10.3109/0284186X.2010.489572.

Robinson, K. E., Gerhardt, C. A., Vannatta, K., & Noll, R. B. (2007). Parent and family factors associated with child adjustment to pediatric cancer. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32(4), 400-410. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jslo38.

Sulkers, E., Tissing, W. J. E., Brinksma, A., Roodbol, P. F., Kamps, W. A., Stewart, R. E., & Fleer, J. (2015). Providing care to a child with cancer: a longitudinal study on the course, predictors, and impact of caregiving stress during the first year after diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 24(3), 318–324. doi:10.1002/pon.3652.