Ana Becker1, Claudia Paris2,3, Jelena Roganovic4, Cristina Bustos5, Amaia Rosas5, Paula Contreras5, Ana J Zepeda-Ortega6, Edit Bardi7,8. 1. Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, PINDA Group, Hospital Sótero del Río, Unidad de Oncología-Red PINDA, Avenida Concha y Toro 3459, Santiago, 8150000, Puente Alto, Chile. anabeckerk@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, PINDA Group, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile. 3. Instituto de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. 4. SEPHO Group, I-BFM, Rijeka, Croatia. 5. Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, PINDA Group, Hospital Sótero del Río, Unidad de Oncología-Red PINDA, Avenida Concha y Toro 3459, Santiago, 8150000, Puente Alto, Chile. 6. Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile. 7. St Anna Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria. 8. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Late effects in childhood cancer survivors are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective was to establish knowledge about the disease, late effects, self-care practices, application of health knowledge/education, sources of information, and biopsychosocial impact of cancer, and compare the results of Chile and Croatia. METHODS: One-hundred-and-seventy-one, 5-year survivors who were treated for leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma responded to a questionnaire (119 in Chile and 52 in Croatia). The questionnaire was reviewed by BFM-ELTEC. RESULTS: Health knowledge about past diagnosis and general treatment had 96% Chilean and 85% Croatian survivors. Ninety percent of Chilean and 73% of Croatian survivors were unaware of possible late effects, and half did not know which specialist to visit for follow-up. Forty-six percent of Chilean and 35% of Croatian survivors knew about healthy lifestyles, but most did not practice them. The 74% of Chileans and 87% of Croatian survivors recalled having received health education during treatment. About 50% of survivors in both groups were afraid or anguish, but it was also a growth experience for 60% of Chilean and 42% of Croatian survivors. Eighty-seven percent Chilean and 77% Croatian survivors considered themselves physically independent, while 76% and 75% felt psychologically independent, respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant lack of knowledge about the specific treatment, late effects, and future health in both countries was detected. They did not achieve significant learning with the education received. Psychological sequelae were found that are important to prevent.
PURPOSE: Late effects in childhood cancer survivors are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective was to establish knowledge about the disease, late effects, self-care practices, application of health knowledge/education, sources of information, and biopsychosocial impact of cancer, and compare the results of Chile and Croatia. METHODS: One-hundred-and-seventy-one, 5-year survivors who were treated for leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma responded to a questionnaire (119 in Chile and 52 in Croatia). The questionnaire was reviewed by BFM-ELTEC. RESULTS: Health knowledge about past diagnosis and general treatment had 96% Chilean and 85% Croatian survivors. Ninety percent of Chilean and 73% of Croatian survivors were unaware of possible late effects, and half did not know which specialist to visit for follow-up. Forty-six percent of Chilean and 35% of Croatian survivors knew about healthy lifestyles, but most did not practice them. The 74% of Chileans and 87% of Croatian survivors recalled having received health education during treatment. About 50% of survivors in both groups were afraid or anguish, but it was also a growth experience for 60% of Chilean and 42% of Croatian survivors. Eighty-seven percent Chilean and 77% Croatian survivors considered themselves physically independent, while 76% and 75% felt psychologically independent, respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant lack of knowledge about the specific treatment, late effects, and future health in both countries was detected. They did not achieve significant learning with the education received. Psychological sequelae were found that are important to prevent.