Advances in defining, conceptualizing, and measuring quality of life in pediatric patients with cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the notable advances in defining, conceptualizing, and measuring quality of life (QOL) in pediatric patients with cancer since the 1995 Oncology Nursing Society's State-of-the-Knowledge Conference on QOL.

DATA SOURCES

Published research, clinical papers, and hospital policies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

QOL ratings from children and adolescents are being solicited increasingly in research and clinical assessments during treatment and survivorship using various methods but are not solicited from terminally ill patients; qualitatively induced models of pediatric cancer-related QOL now are being tested using quantitative methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Children aged five years and older are able to report their cancer-related QOL; reliable and valid QOL instruments exist for all phases of treatment except end of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Nurses can involve children and adolescents in rating their QOL for research and clinical purposes and can apply theory-based QOL models to direct care.