The Effectiveness of Palliative Care Program on Symptoms Management and Psychosocial Health among Adolescents Receiving Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Palliative care focuses on the relief of suffering and management of distressing symptoms among adolescents receiving chemotherapy as well as promoting adolescents’ psychosocial health. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a palliative care program on symptoms management and psychosocial health among adolescents receiving chemotherapy. Research design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The study subjects were composed of a purposive sample of 60 adolescents with cancer and receiving chemotherapy. Setting: The study was conducted at the pediatric oncology ward in a children's Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Tools: data was collected by using 1) an Interview Questionnaire Format 2) Palliative Care Knowledge Scale; 3) Symptoms Management Questionnaire; 4) The Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children 2; 5) The Children Depression Symptoms Inventory 2. 6) Social interaction with others: Results of the study revealed that a statistically significant difference before, and after implementation of palliative care program regarding palliative care knowledge scores (t test= 7.62 with P value < 0.001) and symptoms management questionnaire scores as regards daily activities, physical autonomy, social issues, and psychological issues (t test= 3.22, 7.69, 2.14, 3.89, 2.98, and 4.78 respectively with P value ≤ 0.05) Also, the results revealed statistically significant differences in total mean scores of the multidimensional anxiety scale and depression symptoms inventory scores before and after implementation of the program (t-test 10.62, 5.72 respectively with P value ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The palliative care program has a significant effect on the adolescents’ symptoms management and their psychosocial health, the studied adolescents improved their mean scores regarding knowledge, symptoms management anxiety and depressive symptoms, and social interaction after implementing the palliative care program. Recommendation: A palliative care program should be implemented as an intervention protocol at the time of cancer diagnosis and throughout all stages of cancer treatment.