ABSTRACT
This is a report of a comparative study of body-related knowledge and concerns expressed by three groups of school-age children with (a) a diagnosis of cancer, (b) a chronic or acute orthopedic problem of the extremities, and (c) no serious health problem. Information was obtained from interviews using the Gellert index of Body Knowledge, a sentence-completion test, and a freehand drawing of a house. Data were examined using distributive and comparative statistics. The meaning and clinical usefulness of the findings are discussed.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Body Image , Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasms/nursing , Psychological TestsABSTRACT
One hundred eighty-six single case studies of sick infants, children, and adolescents were analyzed to provide a substantial descriptive data base of children's responses to illness, hospitalization, and treatment over a span of more than 20 years. Units of theory of coping behavior are identified as a first phase for adding new knowledge to the field of pediatric nursing. Indicators of the significance of the data base are included.
