• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to provide basic data for developing nursing interventions to enhance quality of life of pediatric patients with cancer (children and adolescents) by examining the quality of life and related factors. Methods: Participants were 134; 67 pediatric patients and 67 parents. The PedsQL$^{TM}$ 3.0 Cancer Module was employed to measure quality of life in the participants. The related factors included general and clinical characteristics of the participants. Results: Mean score for quality of life in the patients was 75.07, and mean score for patient quality of life as perceived by their parents was 64.40. Among the quality of life subscales, treatment anxiety had the highest score whereas nausea had the lowest score. Mean score in adolescent patients (13-18 years of age) was 71.62, lower than the 78.04 for child patients (8-12 years of age). Regarding general and clinical characteristics of the participants, there were no significant differences in the scores. Conclusion: The results indicate that there is difference in perception of quality of life between patients and their parents, and between children and adolescents and these differences should be taken into account when planning and providing nursing care.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors influencing on resilience in adolescents with cancer. Methods: The participants consisted of 107 parents and 107 adolescents who aged ten and eighteen diagnosed with cancer more than six months and currently receiving outpatient treatment or further management after off-therapy. Data was collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression. Results: Resilience was significantly different by religion (t=2.472, p=.045) and number of cancer treatment regimens (F=3.155, p=.047). Family problem-solving communication was also significant by number of cancer treatment regimens (F=3.582, p=.031). The higher social support showed the stronger family hardiness and the better family problem-solving communication. In addition, a positive relationship was found between Family Hardiness Index (FHI) (r=.193, p=.046), Family Problem Solving Communication (FPSC) (r=.226, p=.019) and resilience of adolescents with cancer. FPSC (${\beta}$=.356, p=.045) and religion (${\beta}$=.441, p=.002) were predictive factors at ages 10-12, FHI (${\beta}$=.509, p=.029) and FPSC (${\beta}$=.503, p=.037) were predictive factors at ages 13-15 on resilience of adolescents with cancer that explained 16.0% and 24.3% respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nursing interventions should focus on enhancing family resilience and resilience of adolescents with cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.26
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• pp.7-30
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• 2008

The survival rate of children with cancer has increased significantly from less than 30% in 1960s to 75% during the recent years with the development of modern medical technologies. As a result, the cancer of children today is no longer classified as incurable diseases. Rather, it is recognized as a chronic illness. However, children with cancer are still suffering from physical and psychosocial ailments caused by long-term hospitalization. In particular, teenagers are more likely to be affected by these problems because of interests on one's appearance and peer relationships This study investigated the relationship of the level of body distortion and disease adjustment of children with cancer, and how demographic factors, disease factors, and the level of body distortion affect disease adjustment. Data were collected between October 22, 2007 and November 16, 2007 and the total respondents consisted of 82 children, ages 10 to 18. SPSS 12.0 with descriptive statistics, t-test, correlation and multiple regression were used for data analysis. The results showed that the factors which influence the disease adjustment of children with cancer were age, school enrollment, and the level of body distortion. The result of this study has major implications for the government to provide support for children with cancer to stay in school. Additionally, programs that assist children to build positive body images need to be developed in accordance with their ages and psychosocial characteristics.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.361-368
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify studies related to childhood cancer survivors' health-related needs and analyze scales for measurement of childhood cancer survivors' health-related needs. Studies related to childhood cancer survivors' health-related needs were retrieved from computerized databases using a manual search. The review included 17 studies. The main domains of childhood cancer survivors' health related needs were derived from the studies was psychosocial needs. 4 need assessment scales analyzed in this study were developed in foreign countries. scales were not suitable for the measurement of the needs of Korea childhood cancer survivors. Thus, should be developed comprehensive health related needs scale of childhood cancer survivors in future study.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.467-474
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• 2018

This is a qualitative research that was carried out to analyze the childhood cancer survivors' perceived difficulties using the result of focus group interviews. This study conducted interviews with 22 childhood cancer survivors under follow-up management after cancer treatment at general hospitals in Korea. 22 persons were divided into 3 groups, and interviews were carried out with each group for 80-100 minutes. As a result of the research, four topic collections consisting of 'Physical limitation', 'Influence of lasting childhood cancer', 'Difficulty in forming relationships' and 'Lack of reliable information' and seven subjects, which consist of 'Lack of energy', 'Potential late-effects', 'Fears about cancer recurrence', 'Negative social awareness', 'Difficulty in interacting with', 'Difficulty in interacting with peers', and 'Difficulty in interacting with families' were derived. Based on the findings of this research, it is hoped that provides a basis for developing appropriate and effective services and programs for childhood cancer survivors.

• Korean Journal of Health Psychology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.483-500
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• 2011

Since the introductionof modern therapies, more children with cancer have survived their illness. As a result, an interest in the degree of adjustment achieved by cancer survivors has increased. In this study, quality of life and behavior problemsof child and adolescent cancer survivors were compared with those of healthy controls. Also, the patternsof the discrepancy between parent-report and self-report were compared. Childhood cancer survivors aged 8-18 and their mothers were participated in the study. Parent and self report versions of PedQL were administered to assess the quality of life. K-CBCL and K-YSR were further completed to assess internalizing and externalizing behavior problem. Results suggested that cancer survivors generally showed lower quality of life in physical and social domains and more internalizing behavior problem than healthy control group. However, the results were affected by the domain, age group, and informant. The pattern of discrepancy between parent and self report was similar. All parents reported higher levelsof quality of life and lower levels of behavior problems compared to the self reports of their siblings. In assessing internalizing problem behaviors, cancer survivor group showed greater discrepancy than the healthy control group.The implications, limitations, and directions for future research were also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.405-434
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• 2005

This study has been performed to analyze the experience of parents who had led a parents-group of children with cancer. For this study, fifteen participants were selected for an in-depth interview and the personal experiences of each participant had been interviewed in person until data were saturated. This study employed the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin(1998). With the qualitative constant comparative analysis, ninty four concepts, twenty six subcategories, and seventeen categories were generated. In the axial coding, a paradigm model was proposed as follows: The central phenomenon of the leaders' experiences was that they had been 'Pushed Back' to lead the groups. The causal conditions were 'A Sense of Solidarity', 'Regaining Self-possession', and 'Feeling a Necessity of Parents Group'. The contextual conditions were 'Want to Help', 'A Sense of Mission', and 'Discontent with the Cure Environment'. The intervening conditions were 'Self-reflection of Leadership', 'Reaction of Their Own Family', 'Hope to Have an Expanded Group'. The action/interaction strategies were 'Assuming All Field Work', 'Accumulation of Experiences', 'Recognition of a Role Scope'. The consequences were 'Being Comforted', 'Positive Self-awareness', 'a Sense of Worthiness', and 'Desire to Quit'. In the selective coding, the core category was 'Pushed to Lead a Group'. Based on the core category, four types and five stages in the leaders' experiences were identified. The types include 'a Devoted Family Type', 'a Volunteer Type', 'a Role Model Type', and 'a Activist Type': the stages consist of 'Stage of Maintain Identity as a parent of a child with cancer', 'Stage of Questioning', 'Stage of Active Participation', 'Stage of Experience Accumulation', and 'Stage of Progressive Change'. The result of this study presents some implications and suggestions for social work services and theories with respect to the self-help group of pediatric cancer by attempting to understand more about the experiences of leaders' in such groups.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how adolescent survivors of childhood cancer grieve the death of cancer peers. Methods: Data were obtained from Korean adolescents with cancer between the ages of 13 and 18 (N=12) through semi-structured interviews (face-to-face, telephone, and Internet chatting), observations of the social dynamics of participants in self-help groups, and retrieval of personal Web journals. Based on the grounded theory methodology, data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously, and constant comparative methods were used. Clarke's situational analysis was adopted, and this paper focused on presenting "how to" and "what we can learn" from this analytic strategy. Results: Mapping examples were visualized using of three modes of maps. Adolescent cancer survivors coped with reminders of the "darkness" that ultimately featured their overall grief. Additionally, adolescents' encounters and avoidance of grief were triggered by introspection and interactions with family and friends. Conclusion: Situational analysis provided an efficient way to analyze the experiences of adolescent survivors of childhood cancer by systematizing possible information within the relational social contexts of the research phenomenon.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2011

We investigated the radiation exposure caused by DIPS, which is used to identify accurate repositioning and tumor location in pediatric cancer patients proton therapy. To compare and analyze DIPS condition, 50 pediatric cancer patients who underwent proton therapy were selected in Ilsan K cancer-specialized hospital from March 2007 to October 2009. For DIP exposure, 0.09~1.57 mGy is measured in AP and lateral directions and 23.55 mGy is measured in CSI patients. In whole brain patient, the amount of a day DIP exposure dose was 1.13 mGy. During treatment period, who exposed the biggest DIP dose are whole brain patients, 632.71 mGy is exposed. It is 1.13% of prescribed dose, represented dose is adequate because it is not exceeded 2% of recommended dose. Even though the exposed dose is not exceeded more than 2% of prescribed in DIP exposure, we should recognize the radiation damage and genetic influences to pediatric cancer patients, who is much sensitive to radiation and has longer mean residual life time. Therefore, DIPS guideline for pediatric cancer patients should be indicated to minimize the radiation exposure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.309-322
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• 2017

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of mothers who have had children with cancer. Participants were seven mothers who had children diagnosed with cancer between 3 to 36 months. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology. Overall, 216 significant statements, 62 formulated statements, 16 themes and five theme clusters were identified. The five theme clusters were 'heartbreaking sadness', 'arduous journey of battling', 'protect my child', 'feeling varying between gratitude and disappointment', and 'suffering and wishing to be with family'. Mothers who have had children with pediatric cancer receiving chemotherapy have experienced strong emotional fluctuations as well as hope as they cope with their ill child. However, they try to become strong women and embrace their family to cope with their situation. The results of this study will support for health professionals to understand mothers who have had children with cancer and to consider the supportive nursing care in considering mothers' emotional fluctuation.