VOLUME

This descriptive correlational study aimed to explore symptomexperiences, quality of life (QOL), and the relationship between these variables inadolescents with cancer receiving treatments.

 25 adolescents, recruited from a university hospital,Thailand, diagnosed with various types of cancer; age 10-15 years; having received atleast one cycle of chemotherapy. The participants reported their symptom experiences,using MSAS (10-18) and their QOL, using the pediatrics quality of life (PedsQL) 4.0.Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product-moment correlational coefficient were usedto describe the results.

Most of the participants were male (68%), with a mean age of 12.74 ± 20.44years, and were diagnosed with hematological cancers (56%). They experienced a meanof 11.80 ± 5.61 symptoms. Dry mouth was found to be the most common and frequentsymptom; swelling at arms or legs was rated as the most severe, and changes in the wayfood tastes was the most distressing symptom. All dimensions of symptom experienceshad significant negative correlations with overall QOL (p < 0.05).

Symptom experiences and QOL among adolescent cancer patientsafter chemotherapy showed specific differences. Therefore, nurses should assess everyaspect for both inpatient and outpatient departments, thereby leading to improved QOL.

adolescents with cancer, symptom experiences, quality of life, cancer treatments

Received: February 6, 2019
Revision received: March 20, 2019
Accepted after revision: April 5, 2019
BKK Med J 2019;15(2): 173-179.
DOI: 10.31524/bkkmedj.2019.09.009