Effects of Cancer Treatment on the Comfort of Children and Adolescents with Cancer: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objectives: To map and examine the scientific evidence concerning the effects of cancer treatment on the comfort of children and adolescents with cancer. Materials and Methods: This scoping review was carried out in the following electronic information resources: BVS, PubMed, Cinahl, SciVerse Scopus, Lilacs, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies’ relevance. Results: The search yielded 4,295 publications, of which 20 comprised the final sample. Following evidence mapping, the effects (20; 100 %) on comfort were found, and the most prevalent were pain (12; 60 %), fear (9; 45 %), nausea (5; 25 %), difficulty eating (4; 20 %), and distress (4; 20 %). Regarding the oncologic treatment modality, antineoplastic therapy prevailed in 11 (55 %) of the selected articles. Conclusions: Cancer treatment affects the comfort of children and adolescents with cancer, causing suffering and changing their well-being. It indicates the need to evaluate its impact and take nursing care measures to reduce complications and improve these patients’ adaptation to treatment.