Identifying symptoms using the drawings of 4-7 year olds with cancer

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Child Psychology
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• The symptom burden experienced by young children (under 8 years) with cancer is not well understood.
• Existing self-report instruments may not be suitable for this age group.
• Exploring novel methods to capture symptom experiences in pre-school and early school-aged children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how children aged 4-7 years with cancer express their symptoms.
• To explore the potential of using drawings as a structured self-report method for this population.
• To describe the content of drawings made by young children with cancer when prompted about feeling unwell.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach was employed, analyzing the content of drawings from 18 children diagnosed with cancer.
• Participants were instructed to draw a picture representing a time when they were 'feeling bad or not good'.
• Thematic analysis was used to interpret the visual and narrative content of the children's artwork.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged from the analysis: physical symptoms, emotions, symptom location, and miscellaneous experiences.
• Drawings frequently depicted specific symptoms relevant to this age group, offering unique insights.
• Thematic content provided a window into how young cancer patients perceive and communicate their health status.

Conclusions:

• Engaging children in drawing can serve as an effective tool to initiate discussions about their feelings and symptoms.
• This method has the potential to foster better communication and build rapport between healthcare providers and young patients.
• Drawing offers a valuable, age-appropriate avenue for understanding the subjective experiences of children with cancer.