Psychosocial profile of pediatric brain tumor survivors with neurocognitive complaints

• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-1091-7
• Publication Date: 2015-08-19T14:42:14Z
• Authors: Marieke Anna de R...; Antoinette Yvonne...; Dannis Gilbert va...; Heleen Maurice-Stam; Corrie Gidding; Laura Rachel Beek; Bernd Granzen; Jaap Oosterlaan; Martha Alexandra ...
• Keywords: Neurocognitive

With more children surviving a brain tumor, neurocognitive consequences of the tumor and its treatment become apparent, which could affect psychosocial functioning. The present study therefore aimed to assess functioning pediatric survivors (PBTS) in detail. Psychosocial PBTS (8–18 years) with parent-reported complaints was compared normative data on health-related quality life (HRQOL), self-esteem, adjustment, executive (one-sample t tests) sibling control group fatigue (independent-samples test). Self-, parent-, teacher-report questionnaires were included, where appropriate, providing complementary information. Eighty-two (mean age 13.4 years, SD 3.2, 49 % males) 43 healthy siblings 14.3, 2.4, 40 included. As population, themselves reported decreased physical, psychological, generic HRQOL (d = 0.39–0.62, p < 0.008). Compared siblings, increased fatigue-related concentration problems 0.57, 0.01) reported, although self-reported self-esteem adjustment seemed not be affected. Parents 0.81, 0.000) 0.35–0.43, 0.016) their child than parents population. Teachers indicated for female aged 8–11 years population 0.69, 0.025), but they no problems. showed problems, as by PBTS, parents, teachers. Systematic screening is necessary so that tailored support from professionals can offered complaints.