PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has led to heightened fear and uncertainty among parents of children with cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the parental perceptions toward effects of COVID-19 infection to children with cancer, determine their stress level and factors contributing to high stress level during the pandemic.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in three paediatric oncology centres in Malaysia from September 2020 until December 2022. A total of 167 parents were recruited. Parents completed a set of questionnaires to assess their perception on effect of COVID-19 infection to children with cancer and COVID Stress Scale (CSS) to assess the parents\' stress level.
Patients\' mean age at study entry was 8.75 years (SD 4.38). Ninety-one (54.5%) patients were still on active treatment. More than 80% of the parents obtained information regarding COVID-19 infection from mass media and social networking. Fear of their children contracting COVID-19 infection was high especially among patients who were still on treatment. Forty-nine (29.3%) parents were significantly affected by the pandemic leading to loss of job or monthly income. Twenty-nine (17.4%) patients required treatment modification during the pandemic. The median total score for CSS was 78.0 (IQR 25th 64.0; 75th 95.0). Ninety-one (54.5%) respondents were very/extremely stressed based on the CSS scores. Components with high scores were xenophobia (median score 18.0; IQR 25th 13.0, 75th 22.0), fear of danger (median score 17.0; IQR 25th 14.0, 75th 20.0) and contamination fears (median score 16.0; IQR 25th 12.0, 75th 19.0). Lower household income was associated with higher stress level (p = 0.006).
Our study demonstrated high awareness regarding risk of COVID-19 infection among parents of oncology children. Half of the parents had high stress level, with low household income identified as a factor associated with high stress level.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in three paediatric oncology centres in Malaysia from September 2020 until December 2022. A total of 167 parents were recruited. Parents completed a set of questionnaires to assess their perception on effect of COVID-19 infection to children with cancer and COVID Stress Scale (CSS) to assess the parents\' stress level.
Patients\' mean age at study entry was 8.75 years (SD 4.38). Ninety-one (54.5%) patients were still on active treatment. More than 80% of the parents obtained information regarding COVID-19 infection from mass media and social networking. Fear of their children contracting COVID-19 infection was high especially among patients who were still on treatment. Forty-nine (29.3%) parents were significantly affected by the pandemic leading to loss of job or monthly income. Twenty-nine (17.4%) patients required treatment modification during the pandemic. The median total score for CSS was 78.0 (IQR 25th 64.0; 75th 95.0). Ninety-one (54.5%) respondents were very/extremely stressed based on the CSS scores. Components with high scores were xenophobia (median score 18.0; IQR 25th 13.0, 75th 22.0), fear of danger (median score 17.0; IQR 25th 14.0, 75th 20.0) and contamination fears (median score 16.0; IQR 25th 12.0, 75th 19.0). Lower household income was associated with higher stress level (p = 0.006).
Our study demonstrated high awareness regarding risk of COVID-19 infection among parents of oncology children. Half of the parents had high stress level, with low household income identified as a factor associated with high stress level.
摘要：
COVID-19大流行的出现导致癌症儿童父母的恐惧和不确定性加剧。这项研究旨在评估父母对COVID-19感染对癌症儿童的影响的看法，确定他们的压力水平和导致大流行期间高压力水平的因素。
这项横断面研究于2020年9月至2022年12月在马来西亚的三个儿科肿瘤中心进行。总共招募了167名父母。父母填写了一组问卷，以评估他们对COVID-19感染对癌症儿童的影响的看法，并填写了COVID压力量表(CSS)，以评估父母的压力水平。
患者进入研究时的平均年龄为8.75岁（SD4.38）。91例（54.5%）患者仍在积极治疗。超过80％的父母从大众媒体和社交网络获得了有关COVID-19感染的信息。对他们的孩子感染COVID-19感染的恐惧很高，特别是在仍在接受治疗的患者中。49名(29.3%)父母受到大流行的严重影响，导致失去工作或月收入。在大流行期间，有29名（17.4％）患者需要进行治疗修改。CSS的中位数总分为78.0（IQR第25名64.0;第75名95.0）。根据CSS评分，91名（54.5%）受访者感到非常/极度压力。得分高的成分是仇外心理（中位数得分18.0；IQR第25页13.0，第75页22.0），对危险的恐惧（中位数得分为17.0；IQR第25个14.0，第75个20.0）和污染恐惧（中位数得分为16.0；IQR第25个12.0，第75个19.0）。较低的家庭收入与较高的压力水平相关（p=0.006）。
我们的研究表明，肿瘤科儿童的父母对COVID-19感染的风险有很高的认识。一半的父母压力很大，家庭收入低被认为是与高压力水平相关的一个因素。
这项横断面研究于2020年9月至2022年12月在马来西亚的三个儿科肿瘤中心进行。总共招募了167名父母。父母填写了一组问卷，以评估他们对COVID-19感染对癌症儿童的影响的看法，并填写了COVID压力量表(CSS)，以评估父母的压力水平。
患者进入研究时的平均年龄为8.75岁（SD4.38）。91例（54.5%）患者仍在积极治疗。超过80％的父母从大众媒体和社交网络获得了有关COVID-19感染的信息。对他们的孩子感染COVID-19感染的恐惧很高，特别是在仍在接受治疗的患者中。49名(29.3%)父母受到大流行的严重影响，导致失去工作或月收入。在大流行期间，有29名（17.4％）患者需要进行治疗修改。CSS的中位数总分为78.0（IQR第25名64.0;第75名95.0）。根据CSS评分，91名（54.5%）受访者感到非常/极度压力。得分高的成分是仇外心理（中位数得分18.0；IQR第25页13.0，第75页22.0），对危险的恐惧（中位数得分为17.0；IQR第25个14.0，第75个20.0）和污染恐惧（中位数得分为16.0；IQR第25个12.0，第75个19.0）。较低的家庭收入与较高的压力水平相关（p=0.006）。
我们的研究表明，肿瘤科儿童的父母对COVID-19感染的风险有很高的认识。一半的父母压力很大，家庭收入低被认为是与高压力水平相关的一个因素。
