Impact of Parental Education on the quality of life of children with leukemia

Abstract

Background: The fear and anxiety of parents after diagnosis of their children with leukemia and a lack of knowledge about the disease, treatment, and care of the child adversely affects the quality of life of the leukemicchildren.Methods: In this interventional study, 43 parents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia children who met the inclusion criteria were selected using purposive sampling and were assigned to intervention and control group. The study tool included a valid and reliable questionnaire the Peds QoL inventory that was completed through interviews with the children and self-filled by the parents. The Peds QoL inventory included 8 dimensions containing questions related to quality of life specific to children with cancer. The intervention included interaction and classes that were composed of a lecture and question and answer session and accompanied by a booklet. Results: Before intervention, the quality of life score as perceived by the children themselves in the intervention and control group was 49.59 ±15.8 and 50.57±10.56, respectively; after intervention, these values changed to 59.31±15.04 and 50.15 ± 20 respectively. In the quality of life score as perceived by the children themselves the scores were 51.91± 12.77 and 51.55 ±13.80 in the intervention and control group respectively; after the intervention, these changed to 62.51 ±14.61 and 51.58±8.76, respectively. By paired-sample t-test, quality of life score increased significantly at p value <0.05 in the intervention group.Conclusion: Parental education successfully increased the quality of life of leukemic children, therefore parental consultation sessions and educational programmes are recommended.