Impact of the social deprivation on the psychosocial difficulties of
pediatric cancer survivors: a prospective multicentric study
Abstract
Background The posttreatment period is a key part of the management of
pediatric cancer care. At this period, psychosocial effects (scholarly
and psychological difficulties) have been described in pediatric cancer
patients and can be prognostic for the success of social reintegration.
Psychosocial effects and their impact may be related to the household’s
socioeconomic background. The aim of this study was to estimate
psychosocial difficulties during the posttreatment period based on a
social deprivation score. Design This study is based on a prospective
multicentric study database, and focused on the children who had
received psychosocial evaluation during their follow-up after cancer
treatment since 01/01/2013. We retrieved data on their learning and
psychological difficulties. Socioeconomic status of the household was
estimated by a social deprivation score. Results 1003 patients were
analyzed. Learning difficulties at school were noted in 22% of
patients. A greater social deprivation was significantly associated with
learning difficulty (OR=1.09 per unit of the deprivation score). Tumor
relapse, treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and
diagnosis of a CNS tumor remained significant risk factors. In the
subgroup analysis of children with CNS tumors, learning difficulties
were increased and associated with greater social deprivation. By
contrast, psychological difficulties were not associated with the
deprivation score. Conclusion There is a link between SE status and
learning difficulties in survivors of childhood cancer. Further
investigations should be carried out to confirm these results for
children with CNS tumors, which is the population of the greatest
concern.