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Tokala M, Weber J, Gilbert R, Dreyer Gillette ML, August KJ, Befort CA, Bates CR. Caregiver perceptions of child heath behaviors and weight during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e30984. [PMID: 38584336 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in health behaviors and weight are common during the early phases of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, and may negatively impact treatment tolerability. Given that ALL is most prevalent in children, caregivers play an essential role in shaping health behaviors during treatment. This study presents a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with caregivers of youth in the early phases of ALL treatment. PROCEDURE Caregivers (N = 17, 95% female) of a child (M age = 6.76 years) diagnosed with ALL and on treatment for less than 1 year (M = 8.7 months since diagnosis) completed a semi-structured interview about perceptions of their child's nutrition, physical activity, sedentary time, and weight during ALL treatment. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clark's six-step framework (2006). Two coders established reliability (alpha = .88) and used a multi-pass coding system to extract themes. RESULTS Caregivers' concerns around their child's weight during ALL treatment primarily centered around avoiding malnutrition. Weight gain during treatment was less of a concern and often viewed as protective. Caregivers reported encouraging their child to eat palatable, calorie-dense foods to mitigate risk for weight loss. Caregivers also expressed concern that children were less active and more sedentary due to treatment-related pain. Caregivers discussed health behaviors during treatment as being child-directed, rather than parent- or provider-directed. CONCLUSION Future interventions may consider strategies to engage in joint parent-child decisions and caregiver education around risks of excessive weight gain during treatment. Interventions should include anticipatory guidance and aim to support parents in developing skills to support their child's health behaviors during treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Tokala
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Jacee Weber
- Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Renee Gilbert
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Meredith L Dreyer Gillette
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Keith J August
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Christie A Befort
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Westwood, Kansas, USA
| | - Carolyn R Bates
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Westwood, Kansas, USA
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Gaser D, Peters C, Oberhoffer-Fritz R, Götte M, Feuchtinger T, Schmid I, Haller B, von Luettichau I, Kesting S. Effects of strength exercise interventions on activities of daily living, motor performance, and physical activity in children and adolescents with leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Results from the randomized controlled ActiveADL Study. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:982996. [PMID: 36425395 PMCID: PMC9679409 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.982996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pediatric patients with cancer experience impairments in muscle strength and physical activity (PA) that may reduce autonomy during hospitalization. To determine the effects of strength exercise interventions on the accomplishment of activities of daily living (ADLs), motor performance, and PA in children with leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we randomly allocated patients (4-18 years) immediately after diagnosis into two exercise groups. METHODS The intervention group (IG; n = 21) received a specific strength training combined with a standard care exercise program, whereas the control group (CG; n = 20) was provided standard care exercise program without any targeted muscle strengthening. After the baseline visit, participants were followed-up three times until intensive treatment cessation. We assessed physical function limitations using the Activities Scale for Kids© (ASK) and Functional ADL Screen. Secondary outcomes were PA levels using accelerometer and motor performance as measured by MOON-test (motor performance in pediatric oncology-test). RESULTS In both groups, ADL accomplishment had significantly increased (p < 0.05). However, no significant between-group differences for ASK outcome were noted. Motor performance was reduced in all motor abilities. CONCLUSIONS Both exercise interventions were effective to maintain ADLs and motor performance during intensive treatment. In comparison, regular strength exercise interventions in the course of therapy tended to be more beneficial with regards to muscular explosive and endurance strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Gaser
- Kinderklinik München Schwabing, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Centre, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Pediatric Oncology Network, KIONET Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Peters
- Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
- Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Miriam Götte
- Clinic of Pediatrics III, Department of Hematology and Oncology, West German Cancer Centre Essen, University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Tobias Feuchtinger
- Pediatric Oncology Network, KIONET Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany.,Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Irene Schmid
- Pediatric Oncology Network, KIONET Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany.,Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Haller
- Institute of AI and Informatics in Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Irene von Luettichau
- Kinderklinik München Schwabing, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Centre, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Pediatric Oncology Network, KIONET Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sabine Kesting
- Kinderklinik München Schwabing, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Centre, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Pediatric Oncology Network, KIONET Bavaria, Erlangen, Germany
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