Sedigheh Khanjari, Naiemeh Seyedfatemi, Somayeh Borji, Hamid Haghani,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2014)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Cancer is the most common childhood chronic medical illnesses that can affect quality of life of the children and their families. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of coping skills training on quality of life among parents of children with leukemia.
Methods & Materials: This non-randomized clinical trial was conducted from March to June 2013. Ninety eight parents of children with leukemia who were referred to two selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences were enrolled to study using convenience sampling method. The participants were allocated to two experimental (n=48) and control (n=50) groups. Data were collected through two questionnaires including demographic characteristics of the parents and children, and the Persian version of the Caregivers Quality Of Life index Cancer. Coping skills training including social communication skills was performed through small group discussion (5-8 members) in four 2-hours sessions for the experimental group. The questionnaires were completed four weeks after the intervention by the parents. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, paired t-test, Fisher's exact test and Chi-squared test in the SPSS-16.
Results: The results showed significant increase in the overall quality of life after the intervention (P<0.001). The quality of life of parents in the experimental group was improved significantly in comparison with the control group (P=0.045). Mental/emotional burden (P<0.001) and lifestyle disruption (P<0.001) decreased significantly after the intervention.
Conclusion: The coping skills training affected the quality of life among parents of children with leukemia . Effective educational interventions may help to increase the quality of life of parents who have children with Leukemia.
Hosna Ghorbani, Akram Ghahramanian, Arefeh Davoodi, Leila Valizadeh,
Volume 31, Issue 1 (4-2025)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Although chemotherapy is effective in treating leukemia, it is associated with multiple adverse effects. Mothers, as key members of the healthcare team, need adequate information regarding these side effects to provide optimal care. This study aimed to investigate the side effects of chemotherapy in pediatric and adolescent leukemia patients and examine their relationship with maternal treatment knowledge.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 and involved 110 mothers and their children aged 6-18 years hospitalized for leukemia at educational hospitals in Tabriz. A convenience sampling method was employed. Data collection instruments included the American Cancer Society's chemotherapy side effects checklist and an information questionnaire for parents of children with cancer, developed by Motlagh et al. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, applying chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, paired t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: The mean age of mothers was 37 years, and that of the children was 11.61 years. The majority of diagnoses were Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The severity of complications—such as fever, nausea, vomiting, mouth mucositis, diarrhea, anorexia, and bleeding—showed a significant increasing trend over the four-week observation period (P<0.001). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in mothers' treatment knowledge between the first and fourth weeks (P<0.001). There was a significant relationship between chemotherapy complications and mothers' treatment knowledge (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Mothers actively seek and obtain information regarding their children’s chemotherapy treatment, with their knowledge increasing as complication severity rises. Awareness of side effects and their management strategies enables parents to provide appropriate care and empowers caregivers to offer the best advice and support to patients and their families throughout the treatment course.
