Health RelatedQuality of Life Among Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at a Tertiary Referral Center in the Philippines

Maria Beatriz    P. Gepte,; Eustacia  M. Rigor,; Kris Isaac  A. Brugada,; Maileen  Marquez-roa,; Ma. Cecilia  Cruz,

Health RelatedQuality of Life Among Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at a Tertiary Referral Center in the Philippines

Maileen Marquez-roa | Eustacia M. Rigor | Maria Beatriz P. Gepte | Ma. Cecilia Cruz | Kris Isaac A. Brugada

Abstract:

Background: Most Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) studies in pediatric patients were done in developed countries and have focused on the survivors and to a lesser extent on children during active treatment. No studies have been done locally to date. Objectives: To assess the HRQOL of Filipino children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) undergoing chemotherapy specifically to assess the influence of medical and demographic characteristics on HRQOL. Methods: After linguistic validation, a cross-sectional HRQOL study was conducted among parents/ guardians and their children undergoing chemotherapy using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM(PedsQL TM) 4.0 Generic Core Scale and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TMM(PedsQL TM) 3.0 Cancer Module. Results: Seventy-nine guardians and 46 patients participated. Internal consistency of both scales in most of the subscales ranged 0.53 - 0.90 except in the Cognitive Problem subscale. Positive correlations were noted between self-reports and proxy-reports. Parents tended to report lower on Worry and Procedural Anxiety domains. In terms of gender influence, female patients had more problems in the Perceived Physical Appearance domain. Low income group patients had problems in the Worry domain. HRQOL scores were significantly lower among patients in the intensive phase of treatment. Procedural Anxiety scores were consistently low both in the self- and proxy-reports and were not influenced by demographic factors or medical characteristics. Conclusion: Parents from low income group tend to worry more and female patients were more particular with their appearance during treatment. Age, gender, and socio-economic status as well as risk stratification and phase of treatment did not influence tolerance to procedural anxiety.

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