The results of this review support findings of previous descriptive reviews. Methodological problems include poorly reported medical information (for example, time since diagnosis), heterogeneous samples, self-selection of participants, poorly chosen/lack of suitable measures, and a lack of longitudinal work. Findings are discussed in terms of the need for cross-cultural work on adjustment to childhood cancer, the need for studies to take on a more developmental approach, and for greater national and international collaboration.

The relationship between child- and parent-reported quality of life (QOL) and the effects of parental mental health, illness stressors, and child vulnerability was explored using two measures of QOL: the Pediatric Cancer Quality Life-32 (Varni et al., 1998a) and the Disquol (Eiser, Cotter, Oades, Seamark, & Smith, 1999). Thirty-two children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (mean age = 8.92 years) and 36 parents completed measures of QOL when attending routine clinic. In addition, parents also completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), perception of the child's vulnerability, and illness-related stressors. Significant correlations were found between the overall scores on the two child-completed QOL measures, with a range of poor, moderate to good correlations found between the individual subscales. Poor to moderate concordance was found between child and parent reports. Children who self-reported poorer QOL had mothers who were more depressed. Parents who reported poorer QOL for their child reported more illness stressors and perceived their child as being more vulnerable. Assumptions that concordance between child and parent ratings of QOL is a necessary requirement for new measures of QOL are challenged.

School absences are higher for children with cancer than healthy children and those with other chronic conditions. Although there is mixed evidence about whether children have significant behavioural problems, studies involving social relationships generally conclude that children with cancer are more sensitive and isolated than peers, according to both peer and teacher report.

This article describes the long-term impact of childhood brain tumours on eight families, using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Two major themes emerged from the data: the impact of the illness and treatment on the child's current functioning, and how parents live day-today with the threat of future relapse or further long-term physical and psychological complications. A number of subcategories emerged from these themes, including the difficulties obtaining special educational needs, the manner in which children overcame their physical limitations and the problems caused by peer exclusion and bullying. In discussing the way in which parents and children cope with the problems caused by the tumour, and the possible clinical implications that have emerged from the data, we have drawn upon a number of theoretical concepts, derived from discrepancy theory and coping theory.

Implications for further use of the PedsQL 4.0 in the clinical or research context are discussed. Incidental findings highlight some limitations of the PedsQL 4.0 for work with this population.