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Perspectives of children, family caregivers, and health professionals about pediatric oncology symptoms: a systematic review

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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the existing body of evidence to determine the current state of knowledge regarding the perspectives of the following groups: (1) children with cancer, (2) family caregivers, and (3) healthcare professionals, about symptoms, as well as factors that may influence the symptom reports.

Methods

A systematic search was performed for all types of studies that included the perspectives of at least two groups of participants’ symptom reports. Children included anyone younger than 19 years of age who was diagnosed with any type of cancer. Electronic searches were conducted in five English databases and four Chinese databases. The appraisal of methodological quality was conducted using the GRADE criteria. Data were extracted into matrix tables.

Results

Thirty-three studies were included. The pediatric oncology symptoms reported by children, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals were synthesized. Findings suggested that family caregivers’ symptom reports were more closely aligned with children’s reports than with the healthcare professionals’ reports. Influencing factors on the different symptom reports included the children’s diagnosis, symptom characteristics, social-demographic factors, and family caregivers’ psychosocial status.

Conclusions

Children with cancer should be the primary reporters for their symptoms. When there are reporters other than the children, the potential discrepancy between the different perspectives needs to be carefully considered.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jamie Conklin, MSLIS, Prof Library Staff, Medical Center Library and Archives, School of Medicine, Duke University for her invaluable assistance with the literature search strategy and Marion. E. Broome PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Ruby F. Wilson Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Duke University, for her thoughtful comments and constructive suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Fudan University, 305 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China

    Lei Cheng

  2. Nursing Department, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, 270 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200000, China

    Liying Wang

  3. Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1678, Dongfang Road, Shanghai, 200127, China

    Mengxue He

  4. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai, 200127, China

    Sheng Feng

  5. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Yehui Zhu

  6. School of Nursing, Duke University, 307 Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Cheryl Rodgers

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  1. Lei Cheng
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Correspondence to Lei Cheng.

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Cheng, L., Wang, L., He, M. et al. Perspectives of children, family caregivers, and health professionals about pediatric oncology symptoms: a systematic review. Support Care Cancer 26, 2957–2971 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4257-3

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