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Identifying determinants of quality of life of children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper describes a systematic review conducted to identify factors that have been investigated as explanations of variability in the quality of life of children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors. Our purpose was to build an evidence base that could be used to guide and direct future research.

Methods

MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cancerlit, and Sociological Abstracts were searched from the inception of each database to June 15, 2009 using the following search terms: “quality of life,” “health-related quality of life,” “quality adjusted life years,” “health status,” “functional status,” “well-being,” or “patient-reported outcome.” Sample characteristics and information about the relationship between a quality of life domain or total scale score and at least one factor (e.g., child gender or age, coping skills, family income) were extracted from eligible studies.

Results

Nine cancer-specific and nine generic QOL questionnaires were used in 58 publications described 239 factors (50 unique factors). The large number of cancer, treatment, child, and family variables considered indicates that extensive research activity has occurred. However, most of the variables identified were examined in only a few studies and most represent medical and treatment variables with less research attention paid to child and family variables.

Conclusions

Our study has compiled evidence about determinants of QOL for children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors from the existing literature. Future research can build on this evidence base to expand the range of factors studied as most research to date has focused on medical and treatment factors.

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Sources of support

This research is supported by the Canadian Cancer Society (Grant #20386). Anne Klassen and Lillian Sung are recipients of Canadian Institute of Health Research career awards. Samantha Anthony is a recipient of a McMaster Child Health Research Institute Fellowship Award.

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None to declare.

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The authors have no conflict of interest to report.

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Correspondence to Anne F. Klassen.

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Klassen, A.F., Anthony, S.J., Khan, A. et al. Identifying determinants of quality of life of children with cancer and childhood cancer survivors: a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 19, 1275–1287 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1193-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1193-x

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