Longitudinal understanding of prognosis among adolescents with cancer

Objective Despite calls to increase prognosis communication for adolescents with cancer, limited research has examined their perceptions of prognosis as compared with their parents. We assessed adolescents’ understanding of their prognosis relative to parents and oncologists. Methods Families of ado...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric blood & cancer 2021-03, Vol.68 (3), p.e28826-n/a
Main Authors: Fisher, Rachel S., Kenney, Ansley E., Fults, Marci Z., Manring, Samantha, Rodriguez, Erin M., Desjardins, Leandra, Rausch, Joseph R., Young‐Saleme, Tammi, Ranalli, Mark A., Vannatta, Kathryn, Compas, Bruce E., Gerhardt, Cynthia A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Cancer
Diagnosis
Hematology
Medical prognosis
Mothers
Oncology
palliative care
Pediatrics
Prognosis
psychosocial
psycho‐oncology
Teenagers
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Summary:Objective Despite calls to increase prognosis communication for adolescents with cancer, limited research has examined their perceptions of prognosis as compared with their parents. We assessed adolescents’ understanding of their prognosis relative to parents and oncologists. Methods Families of adolescents (aged 10‐17) were recruited at two pediatric institutions following a new diagnosis or relapse. Seventy‐four adolescents, 68 mothers, and 40 fathers participated at enrollment; 76 adolescents, 69 mothers, and 35 fathers participated one year later. The adolescent's primary oncologist reported on prognosis only at enrollment. Participants rated the likelihood of the adolescent's survival in five years, as well as reporting prognosis communication and sources of information. Results Most oncologists (65%) and fathers (63%) discussed prognosis in numerical terms with the adolescent at baseline, which was greater than mother report (49%) of discussions of numerical prognosis with adolescents. Adolescents reported a better prognosis than oncologists, but comparable with mothers at diagnosis and one year. Adolescents’ prognosis estimates were stable over time (P > .05). At diagnosis, adolescent‐father (P = 0.025) and adolescent‐oncologist (P 
ISSN:1545-5009
1545-5017
DOI:10.1002/pbc.28826