Difficulties completing treatment tasks among newly diagnosed children with cancer

This study examined the role of childrearing attitudes and practices, general child behavior problems, and child functional status in the development of difficulties completing medical tasks required during cancer treatment. Fifty-four children recently diagnosed with cancer and their primary caregivers participated in this 6-month longitudinal study. Ratings of both difficulty obtaining task cooperation and ultimate refusal to perform a task were completed by caregivers. Results indicated that caregiver childrearing consistency was associated with less caregiver difficulty obtaining cooperation with tasks and more refusals to complete tasks. This association was present even after controlling for the contribution of the child's age, prior treatment cooperation problems, and the child's level of functional impairment. General child behavior problems also contributed to parent ratings of difficulties obtaining cooperation with non-oral-medication-related tasks. Children with more physical impairment induced by treatment were less cooperative with medical treatment tasks.