title: What's missing in missing data? Omissions in survey responses among parents of children with advanced cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Missing data is a common phenomenon with survey-based research; patterns of missing data may elucidate why participants decline to answer certain questions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe patterns of missing data in the Pediatric Quality of Life and Evaluation of Symptoms Technology (PediQUEST) study, and highlight challenges in asking sensitive research questions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, survey-based study embedded within a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three large children's hospitals: Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (DF/BCCDC); Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP); and Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH).
  
  
  METHODS
  At the time of their child's enrollment, parents completed the Survey about Caring for Children with Cancer (SCCC), including demographics, perceptions of prognosis, treatment goals, quality of life, and psychological distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six of 104 parents completed surveys (83% response). The proportion of missing data varied by question type. While 14 parents (16%) left demographic fields blank, over half (n=48; 56%) declined to answer at least one question about their child's prognosis, especially life expectancy. The presence of missing data was unrelated to the child's diagnosis, time from progression, time to death, or parent distress (p>0.3 for each). Written explanations in survey margins suggested that addressing a child's life expectancy is particularly challenging for parents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents of children with cancer commonly refrain from answering questions about their child's prognosis, however, they may be more likely to address general cure likelihood than explicit life expectancy. Understanding acceptability of sensitive questions in survey-based research will foster higher quality palliative care research.
authors.affiliation: 1 Seattle Children's Hospital , Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Abby R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dussel
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: J Russel
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feudtner
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires