Parents' perceptions of randomization in pediatric clinical trials. Children Cancer Group

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate parents' knowledge and perceptions about randomization in clinical trials for children with cancer, and to determine whether parents' decisions were influenced by demographic factors, randomization circumstances, the clinical characteristics of the child with cancer, or a combination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study collected information from 192 parents of patients with various forms of childhood cancer who either accepted or refused randomization. A comparative case-control design was used. The Clinical Investigation Randomization Scale was administered to all participants. This scale included 32 questionnaire items (QIs) pertaining to randomization as well as a mixture of open-ended questions to obtain information about demographic and other factors.

RESULTS

A predictor model was developed that accurately predicted acceptance or refusal of randomization 87% of the time. Demographic information was found to have less influence than expected on parents' decisions regarding randomization. Knowledge deficits were found among both groups of parents, those who accepted and those who refused randomization.

CONCLUSIONS

What most distinguished parents who refused from those who accepted randomization was not their knowledge and information about randomized clinical trials. By far, the majority of QIs that accurately predicted acceptors and refusers involved parents' beliefs, values, and perceptions. Further research is needed to determine interventions that may enable the healthcare team to provide information and decisional support most effectively to improve the informed consent process.

An in vitro study on the toxic effects of nonylphenols (NP) in mitochondria

This paper is focused on alkylphenols, compounds which are formed by the biodegradation of polyethoxilatedalkylphenols detergents. Our experiments show that alkylphenols act not only as detergents, but also as uncouplers of the oxidative phosphorylation. This effect, can be observed at very low doses, thus suggesting that the preferential target of nonylphenols in living organisms are mitochondria.

Effect of ventilator-associated pneumonia on mortality and morbidity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the attributable mortality and excess intensive care unit (ICU) stay as linked to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a medical-surgical ICU. We performed a matched cohort study. The diagnosis of VAP was established when clinical, biologic, and radiologic signs of VAP were associated with the presence of at least one microorganism at a concentration > or = 10(3) CFU/ml on the protected specimen brush sample. Each case patient with VAP was matched to one control patient on the basis of the following potential confounding factors: same diagnosis and same indication for mechanical ventilation, same age +/-5 yr, same sex, same APACHE II score +/-5 on admission. In addition, control patients had to be ventilated for at least as long as the case patient prior to the onset of VAP, and date of admission of the case and control patients had to be matched within 1 yr. In 85 of the 97 patients with VAP, we were able to match one case patient with one control patient. Mortality was similar in both case (40%) and control (38.8%) patients. The duration of mechanical ventilation was increased in survivor case patients (27.2 +/- 24.7 d) compared with survivor control patients (18.5 +/- 15.7 d) (p < 0.01). The duration of hospitalization in ICU was increased in survivor case patients (34.9 +/- 23.6 d) compared with survivor control patients (26.1 +/- 18.6 d) (p < 0.02). When confounding factors were controlled, VAP did not appear to increase mortality.

What caused my child's cancer? Parents' responses to an epidemiology study of childhood cancer

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, parents try to understand why the cancer developed. Although usually it is not possible to explain what caused an individual child's cancer, clinical experience has shown that parents do form theories about the origins of their child's illness although, or perhaps because, no one knows the actual cause. A parent-completed epidemiology questionnaire (EQ), designed to provide a comprehensive and general epidemiology data base for studies conducted by the Childrens Cancer Group, included an open-ended item ("Do you have any additional comments or concerns about anything that could have caused or contributed to your child's illness?"). A convenience sample of 500 EQs containing responses to the open-ended question was reviewed independently by two experienced pediatric oncology nurses. Statements contained in the responses were categorized into 12 major themes according to content: concern about environmental exposures (n = 303), concern about family health history (n = 270), specific causality attribution (n = 39), puzzlement (n = 24), concern with cancer "clusters" (n = 23), concern with stress (n = 22), altruism (n = 15), specific feedback requests (n = 11), myths/misconceptions (n = 5), advocation of preventive education/screening (n = 4), active information-seeking (n = 6), and parental self-blame (n = 4). These themes or concerns provide useful information that can be applied in planning educational and supportive clinical interventions, as well as further research.

Informed consent for treatment of childhood cancer: factors affecting parents' decision making

Both the treatment for childhood cancer and the legal requirements for gaining parents' consent to treatment have become increasingly complex. The purpose of the exploratory investigation reported here was to identify influential circumstances surrounding the consent process in the pediatric setting, to describe the relationship of parental anxiety to these factors, and to delineate related practice and research implications. Twenty-eight parents of children entered on one of four protocols for the treatment of newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the University of California San Francisco were asked to complete two questionnaires within 48 hours after consenting to treatment: the State-Trait Anxiety Index and the Parent Informed Consent Questionnaire. Results of the study confirmed clinical experience that parents are given complex information and asked to make decisions about their child's life in a highly anxious state. Although participants were generally satisfied with the informed consent process 48 hours after signing a consent form, further research is needed to document how well parents understand and remember key information, as well as the influence of time, experience, and changes in state anxiety on their perceptions of the adequacy of the consent process. In current clinical practice, simple strategies can be applied to improve the informed consent process for families of children with cancer.

Very high dose cis-platinum (450 mg/sq m) in an infant with rhabdomyosarcoma

The toxic effects of CDDP, erroneously given at 450 mg/sq m, are described. Life threatening gastrointestinal and myelotoxicity was observed as well as prolonged severe renal tubular acidosis without renal failure. No significant oto (brain-stem evoked responses) or neurotoxicity (EEG, neurologic examination and nerve conduction velocity) was detected indicating major age-related differences in the toxicity of this drug.

High-dose cisplatin and etoposide in advanced malignancies of childhood

Thirty-two children with poor-prognosis solid tumors were treated with a combination of high-dose cisplatin (CDDP) (200 mg/m2 over 5 days) and VP16. In the 30 children evaluable for antitumor effect, there were 7 complete, 12 partial, and 3 minor tumor responses. Wilms' tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma responded best. There were no therapy-related deaths. Severe neutropenia (PMN less than 500/mmc) developed after 29 out of the 45 evaluable courses and lasted a median of 8 days; during periods of neutropenia 8 episodes of fever occurred, 1 of which was caused by streptococcal sepsis. Platelet levels were depressed to less than 50,000/mmc after 17/45 cycles and this thrombocytopenia lasted a median of 8 days. No neurological toxicity occurred. One case developed acute renal failure. A hearing deficit for high frequencies was documented in 14/22 patients evaluated after the first cycle and in all cases after the subsequent cycles; the deficits correlated with the total dose of CDDP administered. High-dose cisplatin and VP16 is an effective association in children with advanced cancer, but cumulative dosage is limited by ototoxicity.

Resistant and relapsing neuroblastoma: improved response rate with a new multiagent regimen (OC-HDP) including high-dose cisplatinum

From September 1984 to July 1985, 11 children from 6 months to 6 years of age were treated with a three-drug regimen (OC-HDP), including vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatinum 200 mg/m2 given as five dose-fractions over 5 days. Nine had resistant and two relapsed neuroblastoma. Nine children had previously been treated with cisplatinum at conventional doses; nine had not received cyclophosphamide and ten had not received vincristine. Nine of eleven patients had a good response to treatment; six are presently alive in continuous complete remission 11-23 months (median 13 months) after diagnosis. Toxicity was moderate: no child showed either severe myelotoxicity or clinical or laboratory evidence of nephrotoxicity. No child had clinically significant ototoxicity. In six children audiometry showed hearing loss for high frequencies after the third cycle of treatment. It is concluded that OC-HDP regimen could be considered as a first-line treatment for advanced neuroblastoma.

Comparison of enflurane, halothane, and isoflurane for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children with malignancies

The authors performed a randomized, prospective trial comparing enflurane, halothane, and isoflurane (each administered with nitrous oxide) to establish which inhaled anesthetic produced the fewest complications and the most rapid induction of anesthesia for children undergoing general anesthesia for diagnostic procedures as oncology outpatients. Sixty-six children, ranging from 8 months to 18 years, underwent a total of 124 anesthetics. Induction of anesthesia (time from placement of facemask to beginning of skin preparation) was faster with halothane (2.7 +/- 1.0 min, mean +/- SD, n = 46) than with enflurane (3.2 +/- 0.8 min, n = 43) or isoflurane (3.3 +/- 1.2 min, n = 35). Emergence from anesthesia (time from completion of the procedure to spontaneous eye opening) was more rapid with enflurane (4.7 +/- 4.4 min) than with halothane (6.2 +/- 4.5 min) or isoflurane (6.2 +/- 3.9 min). Total time from the start of procedure until discharge was longer with isoflurane (25.1 +/- 6.8 min) than with enflurane (21.5 +/- 8.6 min) or halothane (22.3 +/- 7.6 min). During induction, the incidence of laryngospasm was greatest with isoflurane (23%) and the incidence of excitement least with halothane (13%). During the maintenance of, emergence from, and recovery from anesthesia, coughing occurred most frequently with isoflurane. During the recovery period, headache occurred most frequently with halothane (9%); there were no significant differences in the incidence of nausea, vomiting, hunger, or depressed effect. The authors conclude that the rapid induction and minimal airway-related complications associated with halothane anesthesia make it an excellent anesthetic agent for pediatric patients undergoing short diagnostic procedures.

Patient education and pediatric oncology

An overview is provided of important principles and content useful in planning educational programs for pediatric oncology patients and their families. Implementation considerations, such as assessment of the learner, selection of appropriate teaching methods, and problems with the selection process are addressed.

[Clinical experience of mezlocillin in France (author's transl)]

The acylureidopenicillin mezlocillin -- the first penicillin with activity against both ampicillin -- and carbenicillin-resistant micro-organisms--has been clinically tested on a world-wide scale on more than 4000 patients. The present study summarizes the results of clinical trials conducted in France on 580 patients, most of whom had urinary tract or respiratory tract infection, as well as septicaemia, meningitis and various post-operative infections. The daily dosage ranged from 100 to 250 mg/kg (6 to 15 g) divided into three 8-hourly intravenous bolus injections or infusions, or 2 to 3 g doses administered intramuscularly. Eighty-two p. cent of the organisms isolated were completely eradicated, and the incidence of relapses was only 5 %. Therapeutic results were satisfactory in about 90 % of the cases. The best results were obtained in upper and lower UTIs, respiratory infections meningitis, biliary tract infections, peritonitis and septicaemia. Side-effects were those common to all penicillins, i.e. allergic or digestive disorders : they seldom occurred and were always reversible. This, together with the lack of renal or hepatic disturbances, should encourage the use of mezlocillin in extremely or moderately severe infections caused by sensitive organisms. The antibiotic appears to be particularly valuable in patients with impaired renal function or immunodepressed.