Educational Status of Children with Cancer Referred to the MACSA Pediatric Palliative Care Department at Mofid Children's Hospital

Background: The diagnosis of cancer in childhood affects the attendance and experience of school-aged children as well as their educational achievements. This impact is acknowledged throughout the entire duration of the illness and frequently continues even after treatment is completed. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey on admitted patients in MACSA Pediatric palliative care Department at Mofid Children's Hospital between December ۲۰۲۳ and May ۲۰۲۴. The assessment was implemented via calling patients' parents and asking if their children had experienced academic failure and school discontinuation/alternation.Results: Out of ۱۱۵ patients, ۵۹ were attending school or preschool of which only ۴۹ cases were eligible. ۲۲ (۴۶.۹%) had academic difficulties and ۱۵ (۳۰.۶%) faced no significant academic challenge. It is while ۱۲ (۲۴.۴%) had to quit school. Out of ۳۷ patients who are continuing education, ۲ (۵.۴%) were attending preschool, ۲۱ (۵۶.۷%) elementary school, and ۱۴ (۳۷.۸%) high school. Also, ۱ (۲.۷%) had changed his/her school, ۶ (۱۶.۲%) were studying at home, ۴ (۱۰.۸%) were participating in online classes, and ۲۶ (۷۰.۲%) were attending their previous school. Out of ۲۷ patients' parents, from whom at least one had less than a high school diploma and the other had a diploma, ۱۱ (۴۰.۷%) reported not attending school, and ۹ (۳۳.۳%) faced academic difficulties. Among ۲۲ patients whose parents have graduated from high school or a higher educational institution, ۱ (۴.۵%) had to quit school, and ۱۳ (۴۸.۱%) reported studying challenges.Conclusion: The majority of patients had suffered from academic challenges in relation with their disease. Also, the educational background of the patients' parents seems to have some influence on the academic challenges faced by the patient. Further research is warranted to delineate factors involved in happening academic challenges for pediatric cancer patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، Palliative care ، Pediatric cancer ، Supportive care