Impact of Childhood Cancer on Family Functioning and Family Quality of Life in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background. Childhood cancer affects families and friends and causes lifestyle changes that become overwhelming for them. Childhood cancer may cause decreased physical, emotional, and social health-related quality of life (QOL). Childhood cancer may cause strain on the financial status of the family and shape their coping strategy to the disease. The extent of the impact of childhood cancer on families is associated with several demographic characteristics of the family such as diagnosis, phase of treatment, and parent’s educational level, employment, and marital status of the parents. Objectives. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of childhood cancer on family functioning and family quality of life (QOL) in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Methods. This study was a quantitative, randomized, cross-sectional study. 187 participants were randomly selected from the population of parents whose children have cancer and treated at Princess Noorah Oncology Center in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah. A survey was used to collect data for this study. Healthcare and social systems may have to consider the impact of childhood cancer in the care plans of the patients. Result. Leukemia represents the highest disease prevalence followed by brain tumor. The highest score of the impact on the family survey was familial social concerns domains followed by financial burden with mean scores of 3.59 (98.8%) and 3.56 (98.0%), respectively. Then, mastery domain mean score is 3.43 (85.8%) and finally personal strain with mean score of 3.21 (980.3%). The QOL of the family results indicated that the highest was physical/material well-being with mean score of 3.84 (76.8%) and family interaction with mean score of 3.82 (76.4%), followed by emotional well-being with mean score of 3.54 (70.8%) and parenting with mean score of 3.53 (70.6.%). Significant differences were found between the overall scales of QOL and the scale of impact on the family and some demographic characteristics of children and their parents. Conclusions. Childhood cancer has a substantial effect on family functioning and the family’s QOL. In addition, both were significantly associated with some demographic characteristics of the child and his parents.