Parental functioning during maintenance treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Effects of treatment intensity and dexamethasone pulses.
Niki RensenLindsay M H SteurMartha A GrootenhuisNatasha K A van EijkelenburgInge M van der SluisNatasja DorsCor van den BosWim J E TissingGertjan J L KaspersRaphaële R L van LitsenburgPublished in: Pediatric blood & cancer (2020)
Parents of ALL patients report sleep problems, high distress, and QoL impairment. Within the MR group, parental functioning did not differ on- and off-dexamethasone. However, MR parents reported clinical distress more often than SR parents, possibly reflecting differences in prognostic estimates and treatment burden. This perhaps includes the overall strain of cyclic dexamethasone. This study highlights the need for psychosocial support throughout treatment, regardless of risk stratification.