UC Irvine

Research on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among childhood cancer survivors now includes exploration of positive outcomes. Post-traumatic growth, which includes finding meaning in a traumatic experience, is one such outcome and it can be measured through satisfaction, resilience, and achievement. The organismic theory explains that growth after a traumatic event can occur when proper resources are available to the individual. There are gaps in the literature that explore positive outcomes in childhood cancer survivors, as well as gaps in exploring the HRQOL of Hispanic survivors. The aims of this exploratory, descriptive study were to 1) compare the levels of satisfaction, resilience, and achievement among Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic White survivors; and 2) examine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, years of schooling, income), clinical factors (e.g., prior mental health or behavioral problems, age at time of cancer diagnosis, type of cancer), and HRQOL (e.g., satisfaction, resilience, and achievement). Survivors (N = 116) were recruited from Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Inclusion criteria included: 1) > 12 years of age; 2) diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 5 and 18 years old; 3) diagnosed between 1990-2010; 4) completed treatment at least two years ago or five years from time of diagnosis and off therapy; 5) identify as Hispanic or non-Hispanic White; and 6) ability to speak/write in English or Spanish. Participants completed the Child Health and Illness Profile- Adolescent Edition. Comparisons (i.e., sociodemographic, clinical factors, HRQOL) between Hispanic (n = 55) and non-Hispanic White (n = 61) participants were conducted. No difference was found between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White participants’ HRQOL scores in the area of satisfaction (p = 0.95). Resilience (p = 0.003) and achievement (p = 0.005) scores were lower among Hispanic survivors. One explanation for these findings are differences in resources available to survivors before and after their cancer. More Hispanic families reported incomes below the poverty line (p = 0.00). Additional studies are needed to explore these findings, including links between socioeconomic status and resources. Implications for clinicians include ensuring that Hispanic childhood cancer survivors have resources that promote readjustment after cancer.