1. ¹Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
2. ²Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
3. ³Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, A119D, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 4C9, Canada
4. ⁴Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, A123D, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
5. ⁵Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada
6. ⁶Child Health Evaluation Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 424, 123 Edward Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 1E2, Canada
7. ⁷Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, HSC 3N27, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4J9, Canada

Correspondence: Dr L Sung, E-mail: Lillian.sung@sickkids.ca

Received 30 May 2008; Revised 11 November 2008; Accepted 21 November 2008; Published online 9 December 2008.

Abstract

The primary objective was to describe predictors of physical, emotional and social quality of life (QoL) in children receiving active treatment for cancer. This Canadian multi-institutional cross-sectional study included children with cancer receiving any type of active treatment. The primary caregiver provided information on child physical, emotional and social QoL according to the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core scales. Between November 2004 and February 2007, 376 families provided the data. In multiple regression, children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia had better physical health (OR: 0.37, 95% CI 0.23, 0.60; P<0.0001) while intensive chemotherapy treatment (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.85; P=0.0008) and having a sibling with a chronic condition (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.54, 4.15; P=0.0002) were associated with poor physical QoL. Better emotional health was associated with good prognosis, less intensive chemotherapy treatment and greater household savings, whereas female children and those with a sibling with a chronic condition had poor social QoL. Physical, emotional and social QoL are influenced by demographic, diagnostic and treatment variables. Sibling and household characteristics are associated with QoL. This information will help to identify children at higher risk of poor QoL during treatment for cancer.