Health-Related Quality of Life Assessment in Children with Cancer Using Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM in Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin

Aims: Cancer in children can adversely affect their quality of life. Evaluation of health related quality of life (HRQoL) during the process of treatments is important for recognition of acute dysfunction related to therapy and disease. The aims of this study was to assess the HRQoL of cancer children with using the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQLTM) and to assess the influence of cancer type dan duration of treatment to their quality of life.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the age of 2-18 years of pediatric cancer patient in the Children Haematology Oncology’s Ward at the Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin from November to Desember 2022. Subject and their parents were assessed using the PedsQLTM Generic Core Scales and Cancer Module, which consist of parent-report and/ or child-report.

Results: A total number of 59 children participated in this study, mean age 8.4 years old, 38 (64.41%) were male. Non solid tumor represented 62.5% of the sample, with the highest percentage for leukemia (62.71%). Parent had reports about having lower quality of life on the assessment than their children (p< 0.05). Children with solid tumor had more problem in procedural anxiety than non-solid tumor, and HRQoL children with duration of therapy more than 1 year was significantly better than the children who had duration of therapy less than 1 year on pain and hurt domain (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Children cancer in Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin have low quality of life based on parent reports, especially in school function. Children cancer with solid tumor had more problem in procedural anxiety, and also shorter duration of therapy had more problem in pain and hurt. Special care and psychosocial support to children and their parent is needed to improve their HRQoL during treatment.