The prevalence of depression in pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Jordan

Arabiat, Diana H.; Draper, Peter; Elliott, Barbara

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression in pediatric oncology patients in Jordan, comparing them with peers who suffered from chronic conditions or were healthy. The authors investigated 58 children with cancer, 56 with chronic illnesses, and 64 healthy controls using the Arabic version of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). There was no significant difference in CDI scores between children with cancer, children with chronic illnesses, and healthy controls. Using the conventional cutoff point of a score of 20 gives a prevalence of 20.68% for child-reported depression in the cancer group. This is toward the high end of the range for similar studies in other countries. The results suggest that children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy are no more likely to be depressed than children with chronic illnesses or healthy controls, although further research is warranted. © 2012 by Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses.

Citation

Arabiat, D. H., Draper, P., & Elliott, B. (2012). The prevalence of depression in pediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Jordan. Journal of pediatric oncology nursing : official journal of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses, 29(5), 283-288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043454212451524

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Aug 20, 2012
• Publication Date: 2012
• Journal: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY NURSING
• Print ISSN: 1043-4542
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 283-288
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1043454212451524
• Keywords: Depression; Children; Cancer; Chronic illness; Jordan
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/417660