Predicting Factors of Uncertainty in Illness Among Children with Leukemia Undergoing Chemotherapy

Authors

  • Chayabhorn Tiwaree RN, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Seepan Kantawng RN, DSN, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Tipaporn Wonghongkul RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • Wanchai Lertwatthanawilat RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

Keywords:

Chemotherapy, Children, Illness uncertainty, Information support, Leukemia, Predicting factors, Thailand

Abstract

                Leukemia in children is a life-threatening disease and chemotherapy is a complex treatment with severe side effects and complications. Furthermore, the treatment results are unpredictable. This leads to uncertainty in illness resulting in psychological distress. This descriptive cross sectional study aims to examine the predicting factors of uncertainty in illness among children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. Ninety-six children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy in four tertiary hospitals in Bangkok participated in this study. The research instruments included the Children’s Uncertainty in Illness Scale, the Symptom Pattern Scale of Children with Cancer, the Information Support from Health Care Provider Scale, the Information Support from Parent Scale, the Information Support from Peer Scale, the Illness Knowledge Scale, and the Parent Perception of Uncertainty Scale. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that symptom pattern, information support from health care providers, illness-related knowledge, and parental uncertainty accounted for 34.8% of variance in uncertainty in illness among the participants. This study provides more understanding for predicting factors of child uncertainty. The results of this study can be used for developing a nursing intervention to reduce uncertainty in illness among children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy if nurses help them to better understand symptoms as having a pattern, provide information support and illness related knowledge, and decrease parental uncertainty.

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Published

2016-01-25

How to Cite

1.
Tiwaree C, Kantawng S, Wonghongkul T, Lertwatthanawilat W. Predicting Factors of Uncertainty in Illness Among Children with Leukemia Undergoing Chemotherapy. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2016 Jan. 25 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];20(1):33-44. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/24453

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Original paper