Analysis of the quality of life in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment

Abstract

Objective To assess the quality of life of children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in a pediatric hospital in southern Brazil. The sample was non-probabilistic for convenience, and 31 patients aged 5-17 years participated in the study. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected with subsequent application of a specific questionnaire to assess quality of life. In descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used, and categorical variables were presented using absolute and relative frequencies. Results The male sex showed prevalence (61.3%; n=19), the mean age was 10.6±3.6 years and patients diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia predominated (29.1%; n=09). The reduction in quality of life was a finding present in all participants, and chemotherapy was the treatment modality that most impacted quality of life (score: 65.9±14.3). Conclusion Chemotherapy was the treatment modality that caused the greatest reduction in patients’ quality of life.