School Reintegration Outcomes in Pediatric Cancer Patients

Primary Objectives: 1. To examine illness-related factors (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life rating) as predictors or correlates of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 2. To examine illness-related factors (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life rating) as predictors of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance) in children with pediatric cancer. 3. To examine a within-parent factor (i.e., parental stress) as a predictor or correlate of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 4. To examine a within-parent factor (i.e., parental stress) as a predictor or correlate of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance). Secondary Objectives: 1. To examine a second within-parent factor (i.e., parental perception of child vulnerability) as a predictor or correlate of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 2. To examine a second within-parent factor (i.e., parental perception of child vulnerability) as a predictor or correlate of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance) in children with pediatric cancer. 3. To develop a statistical model by which relative contributions of each predictor variable (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life, parental stress, parental perception of child vulnerability), as well as their interrelatedness, can be understood in relation to child adjustment. Exploration of each variable's contribution will affect the schematic organization of the model. 4. To examine demographic variables as covariates in the primary analyses. The variables include: child's age, gender, grade, ethnicity, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, type and duration of treatment, and time since school reintegration.

Sex

All

Minimum age

6 Years

Maximum age

17 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children between 6 and 17 years diagnosed with, and treated for, any type of cancer
2. Children enrolled in grades K through 12
3. Children who have actively participated in community or private school during the 2006-2007 academic year
4. Children who have experienced a period of absence from community or private school of at least two consecutive months as a result of medical treatment prior to school reintegration
5. Children who have fully reintegrated as a full-time student within the past 1-3 years
6. Parents and children who are either English- or Spanish-speaking and are able to read in either or both languages
7. Medical staff (i.e., physicians, nurse practitioners) involved in the children's medical decision-making

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children and/or parents diagnosed and/or identified as having mental retardation (IQ \< 70) with concomitant adaptive behavior deficits or classified as having any type of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
2. Children and/or parents who speak a language other than English or Spanish
3. Participant (e.g., parent or child) unwillingness to participate in any capacity