Impactos Psicossociais e na Qualidade de Vida do Tratamento Oncológico em Crianças e Adolescentes / Psychosocial and Quality-of-Life Impacts of Cancer Treatment in Children and Adolescents / Impactos Psicosociales y en la Calidad de Vida del Tratamiento del Cáncer en Niños y Adolescentes

Introdução: Tão importante quanto o diagnóstico e o tratamento do câncer pediátrico são os cuidados relacionados ao impacto psicossocial, educacional e emocional. Objetivo: Avaliar em crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico de câncer os impactos psicossociais, de qualidade de vida e da presença de acompanhante durante os procedimentos. Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo, com pacientes de 8 a 18 anos e diagnóstico de neoplasia maligna. Os pacientes responderam aos questionários: PedsQL 4.0 Qualidade de Vida (8 a 12 anos), PedsQL 3.0 Módulo de Câncer (8 a 12 anos), PedsQL 4.0 Qualidade de Vida (13 a 18 anos), PedsQL 3.0 Módulo de Câncer (13 a 18 anos) e outro sobre acompanhantes elaborado pelos autores. Resultados: Foram incluídos 25 pacientes pediátricos oncológicos que se sentiam mais felizes na presença de um acompanhante e menos ansiosos durante os procedimentos. Foi percebido grande impacto na qualidade de vida. No questionário Qualidade de Vida, não houve diferença significativa (p=0,627) entre os grupos de pacientes com 8 a 12 anos e 13 a 18 anos, porém o grupo com 8 a 12 anos teve impacto significativamente maior no questionário Módulo de Câncer (p=0,0094). Conclusão: O impacto psicossocial e na qualidade de vida é razoavelmente grande em pacientes pediátricos oncológicos. Além disso, os mais jovens parecem sofrer um impacto psicossocial maior. Os pacientes se dizem mais felizes com a presença de acompanhante, e mais ansiosos na sua ausência.

Introduction: As important as the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer are the care related to psychosocial, educational, and emotional impact. Objective: To evaluate in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer the psychosocial and quality-of-life impacts and the presence of a companion during the procedures. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study of patients aged 8 to 18 years of age diagnosed with malignant neoplasms. Patients responded the questionnaires PedsQL 4.0 Quality of Life (8 to 12 years), PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module (8 to 12 years), PedsQL 4.0 Quality of Life (13 to 18 years), PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module (13 to 18 years) and another about companions created by the authors. Results: There were 25 pediatric oncology patients included who felt happier in the presence of a companion, and less anxious during the procedures. A great impact on quality of life was perceived. In the Quality-of-Life questionnaire, no significant difference (p=0.627) between the groups of patients aged 8 to 12 years and 13 to 18 years were found, but the group aged 8 to 12 years had a significantly higher impact on the Cancer Module questionnaire (p= 0.0094). Conclusion: The impact on quality of life and psychosocial is fairly large in pediatric oncology patients. The youngest appear to suffer great psychosocial impact. Patients claim they are happier in the presence of a companion, and more anxious in its absence

Introducción: Tan importante como el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer pediátrico, son los cuidados sobre el impacto psicosocial, educativo y emocional. Objetivo: Evaluar en niños y adolescentes diagnosticados de cáncer el impacto psicosocial y en la calidad de vida y la presencia de un acompañante durante los procedimientos. Método: Estudio transversal descriptivo de pacientes de 8 a 18 años con diagnóstico de neoplasia maligna. Los pacientes respondieron a los cuestionarios: PedsQL 4.0 Calidad de Vida (8 a 12 años), PedsQL 3.0 Módulo de Cáncer (8 a 12 años), PedsQL 4.0 Calidad de Vida (13 a 18 años), PedsQL 3.0 Módulo de Cáncer (13 a 18 años) y otro sobre cuidadores elaborado por los autores. Resultados: Se incluyeron 25 pacientes de oncología pediátrica que se sentían más felices con la presencia de un acompañante y menos ansiosos al realizar procedimientos. Se percibió un gran impacto en la calidad de vida. En el cuestionario de Calidad de Vida, no hubo diferencia significativa (p=0,627) entre los grupos de pacientes de 8 a 12 años y de 13 a 18 años, pero el grupo de 8 a 12 años tuvo un impacto significativamente mayor en el cuestionario del Módulo de Cáncer (p=0,0094). Conclusión: El impacto en la calidad de vida y psicosocial es razonablemente grande en los pacientes oncológicos pediátricos. Los de menor edad parecen sufrir un mayor impacto psicosocial. Los pacientes dicen sentirse más felices con la presencia de un acompañante, y más ansiosos en su ausencia.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer center in Southern Brasil

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate whether there has been a reduction in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil during the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to what was reported in Europe. METHODS: We reviewed the cancer tracking database of the largest cancer center in southern Brasil and performed statistical tests to compare first-time appointments from the onset of the outbreak until the end of June to those of the equivalent period in 2019. RESULTS: We observed a dramatic reduction (-42%) in first-time appointments during the pandemic compared to the same period in the previous year (P <0.001). This reduction was observed among all medical specialties (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The onset of COVID-19 was correlated with a reduction in admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil. Since a delay in diagnosis and treatment may influence prognosis, it is important that cancer centers and public health strategies reinforce care for non-COVID-19 patients to prevent potentially unnecessary deaths.