Symptoms, coping, and quality of life in pediatric brain tumor survivors: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore the symptom experience, coping strategies, and children's descriptions of their quality of life (QOL) after treatment for a brain tumor. RESEARCH APPROACH: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study. SETTING: A pediatric hospital setting in Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: 12 children aged 9-18 years. METHODS: Content analysis of semistructured interviews was guided by interpretive description methodology. FINDINGS: Children described symptoms including feeling tired, pain, headaches, emotional problems, difficulty thinking and remembering, problems with sleep, physical problems, and weight changes. Symptoms interfered with physical activity, keeping up with school, maintaining appearances, and communication. Coping strategies included reconditioning, taking breaks, taking medication, challenging themselves, volunteering, maintaining friendships, laughing, and using aids. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors experienced multiple symptoms that had an effect on their life, but overall, they described good QOL. INTERPRETATION: Caregivers need to understand the complexity of their patient's symptom experience and its impact on his or her daily life. Coping strategies can be identified to help mitigate potentially negative QOL outcomes.