@article{APM10327,
author = {Andrew Toyin Olagunju and Foluke Oladele Sarimiye and Tinuke Oluwasefunmi Olagunju and Muhammad Yaqub Murtazha Habeebu and Olatunji Francis Aina},
title = {Child’s symptom burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of children with cancers: an argument for early integration of pediatric palliative care},
journal = {Annals of Palliative Medicine},
volume = {5},
number = {3},
year = {2016},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Background: Childhood cancers evoke various emotional reactions in caregivers which can impair their well-being and roles. Little is known about caregiving and which cancer-associated factors are related to caregiver’s depression in resource-restricted settings. We sought to investigate if child’s symptom burden is related to depressive symptoms in caregivers.
Methods: Seventy-two caregivers and children with cancers were administered questionnaires to elicit socio-demographic and disease-related data. Subsequently, the child’s symptoms were profiled with Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS 7–12); while screening for depressive symptoms in caregivers was done using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CES-DR).
Results: All the caregivers were parents, and largely mothers (83.7%). The mean ages of caregivers and children were 39±2 and 10±2 years respectively. Majority of caregivers (90.3%) were either ignorant or attributed spiritual causation to the cancers. The common symptoms with prevalence >50% in the children included pain, nausea, worry, and lack of energy (LE); symptoms’ prevalence ranged from LE (68%) to itching (32%). Approximately, one-third each of the children reported hair and weight loss which were considered ‘unusual’ in the design of MSAS 7–12. The symptoms showed variability in distress, frequency and intensity. In particular, pain, lack of appetite (LA) and feeling sad (FS) were reported as most burdensome in >50% of the children. More than one-third of caregivers (38.2%) screened positive for significant depressive symptoms. The global symptom burden (r=0.58) and individual symptom correlated positively with depressive symptoms in caregivers (P},
issn = {2224-5839}, url = {https://apm.amegroups.org/article/view/10327}
}