Adjustment of caregivers of pediatric patients with brain tumors: a cross-sectional analysis.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to compare the psychological adjustment of caregivers of children with brain tumors who are on-treatment with caregivers of children who are off-treatment. METHODS: Data were collected from 90 participants: 47 (52.2%) caregivers of children undergoing active treatment (on-treatment) and 43 (47.8%) caregivers of children off-treatment on measures of global psychological distress and illness and caregiving related distress. RESULTS: Results revealed that the two groups differed significantly in their reported symptoms of general psychological distress, with the off-treatment caregivers reporting significantly lower levels of general distress. However, off-treatment caregivers continued to experience elevated levels of uncertainty and caregiving burden related to their child's illness. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant evidence suggesting that the burden of caring for a child with a brain tumor is ongoing, continuing well into the off-treatment period. These results also suggest that the psychosocial functioning of these caregivers is best assessed using measures designed specifically to evaluate illness-related psychosocial functioning (e.g. the Parent Experience of Child Illness, Impact on Family Scale).
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Related Subject Headings
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Social Behavior
- Psychology
- Parent-Child Relations
- Oncology & Carcinogenesis
- Male
- Humans
- Health Status Indicators
- Health Status
- Female
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Social Behavior
- Psychology
- Parent-Child Relations
- Oncology & Carcinogenesis
- Male
- Humans
- Health Status Indicators
- Health Status
- Female