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Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pejnovic, LP; De Luca, CR; Gentle, E; Anson, K; Ashley, DM; Anderson, VA; McCarthy, MC
Published in: Pediatr Blood Cancer
August 2012

BACKGROUND: Neurobehavioral deficits will affect up to 50% of pediatric cancer survivors treated with central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapies. Guidelines suggest assessment of neurobehavioral skills at diagnosis be extended from patients with brain tumors to include all patients requiring CNS-directed therapies. However, comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at diagnosis is difficult to implement and resource intensive. A screening assessment targeted at the neurobehavioral domains known to be impacted by cancer treatments may be more feasible. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing baseline neurobehavioral screening following childhood cancer diagnosis. PROCEDURE: A consecutive sample of 59 recently diagnosed patients requiring CNS-directed therapies, and 49 healthy controls were assessed using a targeted neurobehavioral screen, which included measures of developmental, cognitive, academic, behavioral, and psychosocial functioning. Feasibility was assessed using a formal feasibility framework, with criteria of brevity, simplicity, relevance, acceptability, and value. Neurobehavioral assessment was compared to standard care to determine the quality of information acquired from the screen. RESULTS: Mean time from diagnosis to assessment was 5.17 weeks. Assessments were completed within 1 hour for 87% of patients. Participant and researcher evaluation indicated the screen was acceptable across a range of criteria, with no differences between clinical and control groups. Compared to standard medical record documentation, the screen provided significant additional information on developmental and neurobehavioral status of patients at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: A brief neurobehavioral screen in the early period following cancer diagnosis is feasible and provides valuable baseline data for children at risk of neurobehavioral late-effects of cancer treatments.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Pediatr Blood Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1545-5017

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

59

Issue

2

Start / End Page

295 / 300

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neoplasms
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Pejnovic, L. P., De Luca, C. R., Gentle, E., Anson, K., Ashley, D. M., Anderson, V. A., & McCarthy, M. C. (2012). Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer, 59(2), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.24056
Pejnovic, Laura P., Cinzia R. De Luca, Ellen Gentle, Katie Anson, David M. Ashley, Vicki A. Anderson, and Maria C. McCarthy. “Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer.Pediatr Blood Cancer 59, no. 2 (August 2012): 295–300. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.24056.
Pejnovic LP, De Luca CR, Gentle E, Anson K, Ashley DM, Anderson VA, et al. Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Aug;59(2):295–300.
Pejnovic, Laura P., et al. “Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer.Pediatr Blood Cancer, vol. 59, no. 2, Aug. 2012, pp. 295–300. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/pbc.24056.
Pejnovic LP, De Luca CR, Gentle E, Anson K, Ashley DM, Anderson VA, McCarthy MC. Feasibility of neurobehavioral screening following diagnosis of pediatric cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Aug;59(2):295–300.
Journal cover image

Published In

Pediatr Blood Cancer

DOI

EISSN

1545-5017

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

59

Issue

2

Start / End Page

295 / 300

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neoplasms
  • Mental Disorders
  • Male
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Female