Objective:
To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among children with cancer; assess agreement between self and proxy-report and identify influencing factors of the differences in self and proxy-report.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two pediatric oncology units of two Portuguese hospitals. The study involved hospitalized children with cancer (8-17 years old) and their parents.
Results:
The child's perception of their HRQoL was 66.0 ± 13.3 and parents' perception scored 60.3 ± 15.0. The agreement between self and proxy-report was moderate (strong association). Variables related to the child's age, gender, type of tumor, time elapsed since diagnosis and number of hospitalizations did not influence the differences between self and proxy-report.
Conclusion:
An intervention with more support should be made in the resolution of concerns, management of pain and discomfort in children and reduce parental anxiety. It is necessary to clarify the influence of the factors that influence the differences between self and proxy-report.
Child; Cancer; Nursing; Quality of life