Regular, self-reported symptom screening was associated with reduced symptom burden when compared with usual care for pediatric patients with cancer, according to new research led by scientists at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The study, published today in JAMA , reported results of a randomized control trial of 445 participants aged 8 to 18 years receiving cancer treatment from across 20 pediatric cancer centres in the U.S.
Half of the centres participating implemented the screening intervention while the other half provided usual care following a baseline assessment. Patients at the screening sites were asked to self-screen for bother due to 15 symptoms three times per week for a period of eight weeks. Symptoms included feeling sad, worried, or cranky, throwing up, having diarrhea, or being constipated, among others.
At the end of the eight-week period, the total symptom score showed a clinically meaningful decrease with 12 of 15 symptoms measured showing a statistically significant decrease. While we are seeing encouraging survival rates for kids diagnosed with cancer, it's universal that children express severe bother due to treatment they receive. The main purpose of symptom screening is to allow children to have a real voice and express the degree to which they are bothered by these symptoms so we can find ways to make their treatment kinder.
" Lee Dupuis, senior associate scientist, at SickKids and professor at the Leslie Dan F.