Estimates of Prevalence Rates of Cancer Patients With Children and Well-Being in Affected Children: A Systematic Review on Population-Based Findings

Inhestern, Laura; Bultmann, Johanna Christine; Johannsen, Lene Marie; Beierlein, Volker; Möller, Birgit; Romer, Georg; Koch, Uwe; Bergelt, Corinna

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.765314

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(90 reference statements)

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“…Our study is the first to evaluate the prevalence of minors among patients with malignant neuro-oncological tumours, which we found to be 17.9%. These results are consistent with previous findings that indicate between 14% and 24.7% of cancer patients have minor children, depending on the age range of the sample (Inhestern et al 2021 ). However, these studies did not specifically focus on malignant neuro-oncological tumours, but rather cancer in general.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Frequency of social burden and underage children in neuro-oncological patients

Kamp,

von Sass,

Januzi

et al. 2023

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

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Objective Brain tumours can cause significant burden for patients and their families, including physical, psychological, and social challenges. This burden can be particularly difficult for patients with malignant brain tumours and those with underage children. However, the frequency of social burden among neuro-oncological patients and the proportion of patients with underaged children is currently unknown. The aim of this retrospective study is to determine the frequency of social and family dysfunction among neuro-oncological patients, the percentage of such patients who have underage children, and to assess their associated burden. Methods During a 22-month period, all brain tumour patients were asked to complete a short questionnaire that included epidemiological data, the EORTC-qlq-C30 and -BN20 questionnaire, and the distress thermometer. Data were collected and analysed using Prism 9 for macOS (version 9, GraphPad Prism). Results Our analysis included 881 brain tumour patients, of which 540 were female. Median age was 61 years (ranging from 16 to 88 years). Of all patients, 228 suffered from malignant intracranial tumours. More than half of all patients and more than 65% of patients with malignant tumours reported that their illness or medical treatment interfered with their social activities and family life. Almost 30% of patients reported moderate or severe complaints. About 27% of all patients (and 31% of patients with malignancies) expressed moderate or major concerns that their family life could be disrupted. Among the patients with malignancies, 83.5% of patients had a total of 318 children at the time of tumour diagnosis, with a mean age of 33 ± 0.9. Of these patients with malignancies, 38 (17.9%) had a total of 56 underage children at the time of tumour diagnosis, and currently have 53 underage children. Patients with minor children had more financial worries but less interference of their disease with social activities, less psycho-oncological distress, and a more positive outlook into the future (each, p < 0.0001). They evaluated their general health status and quality of life in the week prior to their current appointment significantly better (each p < 0.0001). Conclusion Our study found that 17.9% of patients with malignant brain tumours have underage children. However, having underage children may actually be a positive resource for these patients, as they show lower distress values and better quality of life.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Frequency of social burden and underage children in neuro-oncological patients

Kamp,

von Sass,

Januzi

et al. 2023

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

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“…In recent years some parental cancer studies have been based on nationwide register data (Inhestern et al 2021). The use of such data hugely increases the number of observations and allows other and quite objective health measures to be considered.…”

Section: Evidence From Register-based Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of parental cancer on the mental health of children and young adults: Evidence from Norwegian register data on healthcare consultations

Kravdal,

Wörn,

Hart

et al. 2024

DemRes

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The aim was to examine how parental cancer affects the mental health of offspring aged 6-30, and age variations in this effect. METHODSIndividual fixed-effects models were estimated from register data covering the entire Norwegian population in 2010-2018. The outcome variable was whether the individual (offspring) had at least one consultation within a year with a general practitioner (GP) or specialist where a mental health diagnosis or symptom was reported. RESULTSThe consultation probability was higher after a parental cancer diagnosis than before (e.g., 15% higher in the first year after the diagnosis). This was to a large extent driven by subsequent parental deaths, but there was also a small post-diagnosis increase among offspring whose parent survived the observation period. The consultation probability increased by 83% the year a parent died among offspring who were 19-30 at that time, after a smaller increase over a few of the preceding years. A decline occurred later. The death seemed to have a weaker, but more lasting, effect on those who were 8-18 years old at the time of the death, and these did not experience a clear pre-death increase.

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“…Furthermore, study results indicate that mental burden in cancer patients may be modulated by parenthood: comparing the levels of mental burden in cancer patients with and without minor children resulted in significantly higher depression and anxiety rates for parents of minor children 5 . According to findings of a systematic review (based on data from Germany, Norway, Japan and USA), a substantial proportion of cancer patients (14%–25%) are parents of minor children (≤ 25 years) 6 . In addition to disease related burden, cancer patients with minor children are affected by parenting issues as well, such as concerns and worries about the impact of the disease on their children and uncertainties regarding how to communicate and inform children about the disease 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…5 According to findings of a systematic review (based on data from Germany, Norway, Japan and USA), a substantial proportion of cancer patients (14%-25%) are parents of minor children (≤ 25 years). 6 In addition to disease related burden, cancer patients with minor children are affected by parenting issues as well, such as concerns and worries about the impact of the disease on their children and uncertainties regarding how to communicate and inform children about the disease. 7 Affected parents experience sudden disruptions of daily lives, role changes within the family and the need to adjust life plans according to the new situation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of cancer on the mental health of patients parenting minor children: A systematic review of quantitative evidence

et al. 2022

Self Cite

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Objective To provide an overview of quantitative data on the impact of cancer on the mental health of patients parenting minor children. We focused on mental health outcomes, their levels and prevalence, and applied measurement tools. Methods MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Web of Science were searched up to March 2021. We included quantitative studies, published in a peer‐reviewed journal and reporting outcomes on the mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety) of cancer patients parenting minor children (≤ 21 years). Study quality was assessed based on the National Institute for Health assessment tool for observational studies. This study is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019141954). Results A total of 54 articles based on 36 different studies were included in this systematic review. Studies differ markedly regarding study and sample characteristics (e.g., outcome measures, sample size, parental health status). Depression and anxiety levels range from normal to abnormal, according to applied measurement tools. 7%–83% of parents with cancer have depression scores indicating probable depression and 19%–88% have anxiety scores indicating anxiety disorder. Conclusions This review reveals the dimension of mental burden affecting cancer patients parenting minor children. To identify, address and timely treat potentially arising mental health problems and support needs, affected parents should be closely monitored by healthcare professionals and referred to specialized support offers, if necessary. In the context of a comprehensive patient‐ and family‐oriented care, it is highly relevant to integrate mental health (including parental) issues routinely into oncological care by proactively asking for the patient's psychosocial situation and the family status.

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Estimates of Prevalence Rates of Cancer Patients With Children and Well-Being in Affected Children: A Systematic Review on Population-Based Findings

Cited by 27 publications

References 52 publications

Frequency of social burden and underage children in neuro-oncological patients

Frequency of social burden and underage children in neuro-oncological patients

The influence of parental cancer on the mental health of children and young adults: Evidence from Norwegian register data on healthcare consultations

The impact of cancer on the mental health of patients parenting minor children: A systematic review of quantitative evidence

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