Objectives

To examine the relationship of the Childhood Cancer Symptom Cluster-Leukemia (CCSC-L) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Sample & setting

327 children receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia from four pediatric oncology programs across the United States.

Methods & variables

Participants completed fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, nausea, and depression symptom questionnaires at four time points; these symptoms comprised the CCSC-L. HRQOL was measured at the start of postinduction therapy and then at the start of maintenance therapy. Relationships between the CCSC-L and HRQOL scores were examined with longitudinal parallel-process modeling.

Results

The mean HRQOL significantly increased over time (p < 0.001). The CCSC-L had a significant negative association with HRQOL scores at the start of postinduction therapy (beta = -0.53, p < 0.005) and the start of maintenance therapy (beta = -0.33, p < 0.015). Participants with more severe symptoms in the CCSC-L over time had significantly lower HRQOL at the start of maintenance therapy (beta = -0.42, p < 0.005).

Implications for nursing

Nurses are pivotal in providing management strategies to minimize symptom severity that may improve HRQOL.