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Symptom distress in children with cancer: the need to adopt a meaning-centered approach

R Woodgate1, S McClement

  • 1University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing : Official Journal of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses
|February 25, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Children with cancer face numerous symptoms, but research on their total symptom experience and distress language is limited. A meaning-centered approach is recommended to understand their full journey.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Symptom Science
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Children with cancer experience a wide range of symptoms throughout their illness.
  • Existing research often lacks a comprehensive view of the total symptom experience in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Understanding the language children use to express distress is crucial but underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the theoretical and empirical basis of symptom distress in children with cancer.
  • To identify key areas contributing to symptom distress: medical procedures, cancer treatment, and psychological adjustment.
  • To provide recommendations for future research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of theoretical and empirical studies on symptom distress in pediatric cancer.
  • Analysis of factors influencing symptom experience, including medical interventions and psychosocial adjustment.
  • Synthesis of findings to inform a meaning-centered approach.

Main Results:

  • Symptom distress in pediatric cancer is influenced by medical procedures, cancer treatments, and the child's adjustment to the illness.
  • There is a significant gap in understanding the totality of the symptom experience and the specific language children use to communicate distress.
  • A meaning-centered approach is proposed as essential for comprehensive assessment.

Conclusions:

  • A holistic understanding of symptom distress in children with cancer requires considering their subjective experiences and the meanings they ascribe to symptoms.
  • Future research should adopt a meaning-centered framework to capture the full spectrum of symptom distress.
  • Clinical practice should integrate this approach to improve supportive care for pediatric cancer patients.

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