This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sitaresmi, M. N. Articles by Veerman, A. J. P. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sitaresmi, M. N. Articles by Veerman, A. J. P. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Indonesia: Parental Perceptions

Department of Pediatrics, DR. Sardjito Hospital-Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, msitaresmi{at}yahoo.com

Saskia Mostert, MD

Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Vrije University Medical Center, Vrije University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, saskiamostert{at}hotmail.com

Ignatius Purwanto, MS

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pur_ignas@ yahoo.com

Chad M. Gundy, MS

Department of Psycho-Social Research and Epidemiology, Dutch Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, c.gundy{at}nki.nl

Sutaryo, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, DR. Sardjito Hospital-Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, sutaryo{at}indosat.net.id

Anjo J. P. Veerman, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Vrije University Medical Center, Vrije University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Noncompliance with prescribed medication has been associated with increased chance of relapse and poor outcome. Side effects may be an important cause of noncompliance. Fifty-one parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a tertiary care hospital in Indonesia were interviewed about their perception of side effects and their impact on treatment noncompliance and daily activities. A symptom checklist assessing 13 common symptoms was used to examine side effects. During chemotherapy, childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients suffered from psychological as well as physical side effects. The most frequent side effect reported by parents was behavior alteration (92%). Second and third in frequency were increased appetite and infections, reported by 88% and 83% of parents, respectively. The most severe side effects were leg weakness, increased appetite, and behavior alteration. The overall frequency of side effects was weakly correlated to noncompliance. Reducing the impact of side effects may increase compliance with the treatment.

Key Words: childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia • side effects • noncompliance • developing country

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 4, 198-207 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1043454209340315


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?