Pediatric blood cancer is the most common childhood malignancy. Despite its survival has been substantially improved, children still have to pay a high price for numerous distressing symptoms resulted from chemotherapy. Previous studies related to symptom experiences mainly focus on individual symptoms, rather than on multiple symptoms. Understanding these distressing symptoms may help healthcare professionals to develop appropriate and effective interventions with the aims of alleviating symptom severity and thus promoting the child's psychosocial well-being and quality of life.
A longitudinal study design will be conducted. A sample of 120 patients age 5-17years, diagnosed with blood cancer but not yet receive any chemotherapy and able to communicate with Cantonese and read Chinese will be recruited in the pediatric oncology ward of Hong Kong Children's Hospital.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Participants will complete a set of validated questionnaires (TRSC-C and demographic sheet) before chemotherapy. They also have to complete the same questionnaires (TRSC-C) again within 1 week after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th , 5th and 6th courses of chemotherapy via telephone interview by our research assistants.
Ka Yan Ho
Hong Kong, Hong Kong,China, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGThe therapy-related symptom checklist for children (TRSC-C)
For measuring the occurrence and severity of symptoms experienced by patients aged 5-17 when they undergo cancer treatment.
Time frame: Before chemotherapy
The therapy-related symptom checklist for children (TRSC-C) at 1-week
For measuring the occurrence and severity of symptoms experienced by patients aged 5-17 when they undergo cancer treatment.
Time frame: At 1-week follow-up
The therapy-related symptom checklist for children (TRSC-C) at 1-month
For measuring the occurrence and severity of symptoms experienced by patients aged 5-17 when they undergo cancer treatment.
Time frame: At 1-month follow-up
The therapy-related symptom checklist for children (TRSC-C) at 3-month
For measuring the occurrence and severity of symptoms experienced by patients aged 5-17 when they undergo cancer treatment.
Time frame: At 3-month follow-up
The therapy-related symptom checklist for children (TRSC-C) at 6-month
For measuring the occurrence and severity of symptoms experienced by patients aged 5-17 when they undergo cancer treatment.
Time frame: At 6-month follow-up
Demographic sheet
collect the background information of our subjects, including their age, gender, educational attainment, parents' marital status and religious belief
Time frame: At baseline
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