The impact of cancer and its treatment on Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors’ psychosocial well-being and quality of life

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Notwithstanding cancer survival rates are higher than before as a result of advances in cancer screening and breakthroughs in cancer treatment, childhood cancer survivors are at risk of adverse physical and psychosocial effects of the cancer treatment, severely affecting their quality of life. Whilst much of the attention has focused on the physiological care of childhood cancer survivors, the consequences of cancer and its treatments on psychosocial well-being remain relatively underexplored. AIMS: The aim of the study was to shed light on the impact of cancer and its treatments on the psychosocial well-being and quality of life of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was employed. A total of 137 childhood cancer survivors (9-16-year olds) who had their medical follow-up at the out-patient clinic were invited to participate in the study. Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, short form of the State Anxiety Scale for Children, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Coping Behaviour Checklist for Chinese Children and Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: This study showed that a significant number of childhood cancer survivors in Hong Kong were potentially at risk of depression, or at least presented some depressive symptoms. The study also indicated that greater symptomatology of depression in childhood cancer survivors was associated with higher state anxiety, lower self-esteem, and poor quality of life. CONCLUSION: This study has addressed a gap in the literature by examining the impact of cancer and its treatments on the psychosocial well-being of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors. The study reveals that cancer and its treatments have tremendous impact on the psychosocial well-being, in particular the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors. It is essential for health care professionals to develop and evaluate appropriate interventions with the aims at promoting psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life for childhood cancer.