The hidden impact of childhood cancer on the family: a multi-institutional study from Singapore.
BACKGROUND
The care of children with cancer creates emotional and financial hardships for their families. There is a lack of information on the impact of childhood cancer on the family as a whole in Singapore. Thus, we set out to assess the financial impact as well as its psychosocial impact in our local context.


METHODS
All patients diagnosed and treated for cancer at the Departments of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and National University Hospital, Singapore were eligible for this study. Families of these patients completed 2 self-administered questionnaires: (i) About-you and your-family and (ii) the Impact-On-Family scale. For the latter, the total score was obtained by the summation of all scores, where high scores correlated to high impact.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine parents were enrolled during the study period from October 2008 to February 2009. Being of Malay/Indian origin was associated with a high overall family burden. On the other hand, being of Malay/Indian origin was also associated with most successful at mastery when a child was diagnosed with cancer (P = 0.001). In addition, when compared to caregivers who remained employed, those who were asked to quit their job, experienced a higher Financial Burden (P = 0.03), a high Familial/Social Burden (P = 0.05) and a high Personal Strain (P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood cancer impacted family life in Singapore at many levels. In particular, the factors involved are various cultural discourses; employment status of caregivers; and those whose leave/pay are affected.
Division of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, Department of Paediatric Medicine and Subspecialties, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Aung.Lele@kkh.com.sg
LeLe
L
Aung
Sabai Myat
SM
Saw
Mei Yoke
MY
Chan
Thandar
T
Khaing
Thuan Chong
TC
Quah
Helena M
HM
Verkooijen
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires