title: Quality of palliative care in children with cancer in Lebanon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a growing research interest in pediatric palliative care in Lebanon. To date the existing studies have focused on the perspective of parents of children with cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), symptom prevalence and management, functional ability, and the quality of care among children with cancer at the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey design was used. A convenience sample of 85 patients on therapy aged 7 to 18 years participated in the study between 2010 and 2011. Using face to face interviews, a combination of four instruments were administered in Arabic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the participants was 12.5 years, with the majority having leukemia. Overall, the children had satisfactory health-related QoL, with the exception of the nausea and worry subscales, had no limitations in functional abilities, and were satisfied with the care that they received. In children between 7 to 12 years, the most common symptoms were lack of appetite, pain, and nausea, while adolescents between 13 to 18 years experienced lack of energy, irritability, and pain. Pain and nausea were the most frequently treated symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the participants reported satisfactory QoL, yet symptom management was inadequate and mainly focused on treating the physical symptoms. It is recommended to provide both pharmacological and psychological interventions in order to alleviate symptom burden and hence improve QoL in children with cancer.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, Faculty of Nursing Science, Hariri School of Nursing. huda.huijer@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abu-Saad Huijer
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, Hariri School of Nursing.
authors.forename: Knar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sagherian
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, Biostatistics Unit.
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamim
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Lebanon, Faculty of Medicine, Hariri School of Nursing.
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naifeh Khoury
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Miguel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abboud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires