Discordant Parent Reports of Family Functioning Following Childhood Neuroblastoma: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group

Abstract

This study examined whether late effects and poor survivor quality of life (QOL) characterize discordant parent dyads and “unhealthy” family functioning in neuroblastoma survivors. Parents of 135 neuroblastoma survivors (78 two-parent dyads) completed measures of late effects and family functioning, and survivors completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL). Although average family functioning scores were “healthy,” parent concordance was lower for family functioning than late effects reports. Parent concordance did not differ by late effects or QOL. Family functioning scores were poorer when survivors had more late effects and low physical QOL scores. Parent data should be considered separately when examining child cancer outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• cancer
• oncology
• survivorship
• late effects
• family functioning
• parent concordance

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants to Dr. Gurney from the American Cancer Society (RSG-01–194-01-PBP) and Hope Street Kids Foundation (HSK 052102).