title: A multimethod assessment of psychosocial functioning and late effects in survivors of childhood cancer and hematopoietic cell transplant.
abstract: Previous research in childhood cancer and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) survivorship has relied on the use of standardized questionnaires that assess symptoms of psychological functioning but do not sufficiently capture the cancer survivorship experience. Study aims are to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the psychosocial functioning of pediatric cancer and HCT survivors seen in a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic, determine survivorship concerns, and assess potential demographic and medical correlates of psychosocial outcomes. Data were collected using a retrospective chart review of a parent-report questionnaire of the child's psychological functioning, responses to a semistructured interview that qualitatively assessed adjustment to life after treatment, and documented medical late effects. Results indicated the majority of survivors had healthy psychological adjustment based upon a parent-report questionnaire. However, nearly 72% of survivors reported 1 or more survivorship concerns during the interview, with the primary concerns being current and future health or physical functioning, including the possibility of cancer recurrence. A content analysis of the interview responses indicated HCT survivors had more school or cognitive functioning concerns compared with survivors who did not have an HCT. Further research should use survivorship-specific measures to better identify survivors at risk and determine the impact of late effects on their quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, Department Counseling Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA. kbingen@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bingen
authors.forename: Rose Lucey
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schroedl
authors.forename: Lynnette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoag
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kupst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*