PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric Oncology is defined as the subspecialty that studies the development of cancerous tumors in children. It is crucial to understand the psychological impact of the disease in three areas: on the patient, the patient’s family, and the healthcare professional providing care, in order to establish appropriate interventions. Objective: To understand the extent of the psychological impact on the patient, the family, and the nursing professional in relation to childhood cancer. Method: This is a literature review, whose objective was achieved by searching for scientific articles in the Virtual Health Library (BVS), using the following DeCS terms: "Clinical Oncology," "Child Health," "Pediatric Oncology," "Nurse's Role," "Nurse," "Psychological Stress," and "Psychological Consequences." Inclusion criteria were articles available in full, published between 2019 and 2024, addressing the proposed research question. Exclusion criteria included review articles, publications before 2019, articles in languages other than Portuguese and English, and studies that did not address the guiding question. Results and Discussion: Pediatric oncology treatment is lengthy and complex, requiring specific care from a multidisciplinary team, and significant changes in the daily lives of the families involved. Parents frequently report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information they receive, frustrated when this information is inconsistent, and exhausted. This journey brings vulnerability to the safety of the patient and their family, due to possible inconsistency in care stemming from the lack or loss of essential information. While there is a need to adjust their child’s routine to medical, educational, and recreational commitments, parents must also acquire a set of knowledge and skills that enables them to care for their child safely. For nursing professionals, witnessing the parents' suffering over the loss of their child generates a profound sense of grief, as they share the experience of death. Nurses may frequently experience feelings of mourning, leading to sadness, stress, fatigue, and a lack of motivation in their work. Due to the relationships built during treatment, even until the child’s death, there arises a need to implement actions within the hospital environment that provide support in these day-to-day care situations, aiming to minimize negative feelings and allow for more humane care. Conclusion: Parental denial of the diagnosis results in an even longer and more difficult journey in the disease's treatment. The same can be said of the parental suffering when faced with choosing a treatment goal: whether to cure the disease, slow its progression, extend life expectancy, or alleviate their child’s symptoms. It can also be concluded that, generally speaking, children tend to accept their situation more readily than their families or even the nurses. Among all involved, family members are in the worst mental health condition, highlighting the need for more attentive and sensitive care towards them. It is noticeable that the longer the nurse's education or the more specific their chosen specialization, the greater their ability to cope with the emotional toll resulting from caring for pediatric oncology patients.