Screening Cognition, Sleep, and Physical Activity in Pediatric Oncology Long-Term Follow-Up Care

Abstract

Background

Children treated for pediatric cancer are at risk for cognitive late effects, as well as impairments in sleep and physical activity. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of clinical screening of child- and caregiver-reported cognitive functioning, sleep, and physical activity and the relationship between cognitive functioning and health behaviors within a pediatric oncology long-term follow-up clinic.

Procedure

The study included a retrospective chart review of 99 caregivers and 80 children (8–17 years old) who completed the Conners Short Form (parent only) and PROMIS cognitive functioning, sleep-related impairment, sleep disturbance, and physical activity scales at the child's annual long-term follow-up visit. Test statistics and T-tests were used to assess psychometrics of the PROMIS scales. Bivariate correlations were used to examine the relationship between cognitive function and health behaviors.

Results

The child- and parent-report, short-version PROMIS cognitive functioning, sleep, and physical activity scales demonstrated high internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. High convergent validity was observed between PROMIS cognitive functioning and Conners Short Form. Caregiver- and child-reported cognitive functioning and health behaviors were significantly related (p ≤ 0.042).

Conclusions

The PROMIS short-version scales are reliable and valid measures for screening cognitive function and health behaviors in pediatric oncology long-term follow-up care. Further research examining the predictive validity and longitudinal utility of the PROMIS scales in survivors is warranted. There was a positive association between cognitive functioning and health behaviors in survivors, warranting further investigation to inform potential targets of intervention in long-term follow-up care.