The Status And Influencing Factors Of The Quality Of Life Among Hospitalized Children With Leukemia

Objective:To compare the quality of life between the hospitalized children with leukemia and the normal children though learning about the Demographic characteristics, prevalence and social support status of the hospitalized children with leukemia. To explore the influencing factors of the quality of life of the hospitalized children with leukemia in order to establish scientific basis for improving their quality of life .Methods: To survey the 131 hospitalized children with leukemia from 3 Grade 3 hospitals with self-designed questionnaire and the universal core scale for children's quality of life, to compare these hospitalized children's quality of life and that of normal children with matchable age, sex, residence. The data were inputted with Epidata3.0 and analyzed with SPSS12.0 statistical software.Results: (1) General characteristics: Among the 131 hospitalized children with leukemia, the gender ratio was 1.91:1. The average age was 6.81. 54.96 percent came from rural areas. Monthly income of the families was 1624.29.63.36 percent had emotional change after the illness. 89 percent had to drop out of school for the sake of this illness. The average hospital stay was 16.08 months. More than half of the hospitalized children had complications during this stay. The total cost for the medical treatment fluctuated from 5 thousand to 650 thousand, the average cost was 162 thousand and 8 hundred. Most of the families thought that the illness exerted great influence on their families. 70.99 percent of the parents got social help and support after this illness. 48.85 percent had received financial help. The average finance was 26879.17 yuan. 79.55 percent of the children got social help and support, mostly ownership support.(2) The comparison of the quality of life between children with leukemia and the normal children:â‘ About the total score of quality of life and the score for physical function, emotional function, social function and school performance, the children with leukemia got lower than that of normal children.â‘¡In different age group, about he total score of quality of life and the score for every dimension, the children with leukemia got lower than that of normal children. But in 13~15 age group, there was no significant difference between children with leukemia and normal children about the score for emotional function and social function.(3) The results of single-factor analysis showed that the factors influencing the quality of life of the hospitalized children with leukemia were as follows:age, personality characteristics, emotional changes after the illness, lengthen of absence from school, residence, family monthly income, length of stay and frequency of admission, the occurrence of complications, admission conditions and the current condition, the total medical costs, economic impact of illness on the family, the social assistance and support. (4) Multi-factor stepwise regression analysis showed: about the total score of quality of life and physical function and social function, the children from rural areas got lower than that of children from urban areas. About the score for emotional function, 2~4, 5~7, 8~12 years old got lower than that of 13~15 years old. About the total score for quality of life and emotional function and social function, hospitalized children whose illness had bigger impact on their families got lower. About the score of social function, hospitalized children who had no social support got lower than that who got social support. About the score of school performance, hospitalized children who got social support occasionally and sometimes got lower than that who always got social support.Conclusions: The quality of life of children with leukemia was lower than that of normal children. This was correlated with children's age, residence, the impact of the illness on the family, whether they got social assistance and support or not. Information support and emotional care for the children with leukemia and their parents should be strengthened to improve their ability for social life. Meanwhile, insurance system and relief funds should be improved.