Author(s)

Leivy Patricia González-Ramírez^1*, Ricardo Gómez-Martínez², Cintia Livier Luna-Flores², Cecilia Colunga-Rodríguez^2,3, Mercedes Gabriela Orozco-Solis³, Rosa Ortega-Cortés²

¹University Center of Tonalá, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.
²Pediatric Hospital of the National West Medical Center at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Social Security Institute, or IMSS), Guadalajara, Mexico.
³University Center for Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.

The evaluation of quality of life in children and adolescents with cancer has become an increasing necessity, because of the different areas of the patient’s and its families lives that get affected by this disease. The aim of this research was to determine the association between quality of life and sociodemographic variables in children and adolescents with cancer and their families. We developed a transversal and analytic study that included a sample of fifty-nine patients from four to 16 years old, along with its parents. The participants answered the KINDL survey in its children, adolescents, and parents versions (α = 0.77). The results indicated that the lower scores of quality of life were in the socioemotional areas, particularly in school. We observed an affectation to quality of life that increases with age. Additionally, differences in the perception of quality of life of the patients and parents were found. This study provides scientific evidence about the necessity to develop personalized and opportune socioemotional interventions for the pediatric oncology services.

Quality of Life, Sociodemographic Factors, Psycho-Oncology, Pediatrics

González-Ramírez, L. , Gómez-Martínez, R. , Luna-Flores, C. , Colunga-Rodríguez, C. , Orozco-Solis, M. and Ortega-Cortés, R. (2017) Sociodemographic Factors and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents under Cancer Treatment. Psychology, 8, 563-575. doi: 10.4236/psych.2017.84036.