2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, İzmir OBJECTIVES
This descriptive study aimed to assess parental knowledge regarding cancer-related symptoms and their attitude regarding fatigue in children treated for cancer.
METHODS
This study included 89 parents of children with cancer who
were being treated in the pediatric oncology clinics of four
hospitals in Izmir. A questionnaire form consisting of 13 items
was used to collect data.
RESULTS
Parents observed severe alopecia in 48.3%, fatigue in 49.4%,
nausea-vomiting in 34.8%, anxiety in 24.7%, moderate taste
change in 23.6%; constipation/diarrhea in 28.1%, pain in 7%,
sleeping difficulty in 12.4%, and rare respiratory distress in
7.9%. Parents reported cancer-related fatigue severely affecting
their children's school activity in 43.8%, friendships in
39.3%, psychology in 37.1%, play activity in 36%, energy in
29.2%, and family relationships in 28.1%.
CONCLUSION
We determined that parents were able to assess their child's
cancer-related symptoms, as well as the fatigue that affected
their child's quality of life.