Health- Related Quality of Life Among Jordanian Adolescent Cancer Patients Receiving Active Treatment

Al-Nassan, Saad; Al-Bitar, Noor; Saad, Dhuha; Zahran, Amani; Elayyan, Felasteen; Al-Awadi, Shereen; Khaleifeh, Kawther; Al-Nassan, Anwar

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.3107

Health- Related Quality of Life Among Jordanian Adolescent Cancer Patients Receiving Active Treatment

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.

² Department of Pediatric Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.

10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.3107

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life among adolescents diagnosed with malignancies and
currently undergoing treatment in the age group of 13-18 years old. Method: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional
design. Participants were recruited from the pediatric oncology department at King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
The Arabic version of self-report (adolescent 13-18) pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQLTM ) 4.0 Generic Core
Scale was used. Results: Eighty patients were enrolled in the study. The total score of PedsQL 4.0 generic core was
62.0 (SD=16.5). The highest score was for social functioning (mean=85.4, SD=18.4) and the lowest score was school
functioning (mean=39.5, SD=28.4). Females had significantly higher scores for health-related quality of life (HRQOL)
in school functioning. Type of tumor did not affect HRQOL. Outpatient participants had significantly higher scores for
HRQOL in all domains, except in school functioning where inpatients had a significantly higher score. Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the HRQOL scores for Jordanian adolescents with cancer.
Addressing the special needs in such a unique age group is essential when planning a comprehensive care plan for a
better quality of life.

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