Is It Good To Know Or Not To Know? Is There Any Effect of Information About Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment on Anxiety Levels of Adolescents with Cancer and Their Parents

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of providing information about the diagnosis, treatment process and chemotherapy to adolescent pediatric oncology patients and their parents on the anxiety levels of them. METHODS: Between 2015 and 2016; fifty-five children aged between 14 and 18 years and their parents (n=55; age: 30-50 years) were included in the study. Children who were planned to receive chemotherapy and their parents were informed about the disease and treatment. STAI-II (continuity anxiety) scale was used to measure the general anxiety levels in pre-disease routine life. STAI-I (state anxiety) was used to measure the state of situational anxiety before and after information about the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The effect of informing on anxiety levels was investigated. RESULTS: The median of continuity anxiety levels evaluated with STAI-II scale in the routine life before the onset of the disease symptoms was 38 points (25-67) in patients and 45 points (26-65) in their parents (p <0.001). The mean STAI-I median scores were 38 (23-73) in patients and 48 (28-65) in parents (p: 0.001). After the informative interview the median of the STAI-I scores was 38 points (26-67) in the patients and 42 points in Orijinal Çalışma 239 Adress for correspondence: Uzm. Dr. Meric Kaymak Cihan Keklikpınarı Mah. 915. Sok 3/9 06450 Ankara Türkiye e-mail: merckaymak@gmail.com Available at www.actaoncologicaturcica.com Copyright ©Ankara Onkoloji Hastanesi the parents (23-68) (p: 0,067). While the anxiety levels of the children before and after the informations did not change (p = 0.679), a statistically significant decrease was observed in the anxiety levels of the parents (p =