Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Symptom Profiles of Children With Cancer in China: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Background: Unpleasant symptoms are common in children with cancer. However, research identifying subgroups of children with cancer who experience similar levels of self-reported symptoms in China is limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to classify the symptom profiles of children with cancer and detect the possible predictors of the profiles and their effect on children's quality of life (QoL).

Methods: A total of 272 children aged 8 to 17 years completed the Chinese version of the Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short form measures, the Pediatric QOL Inventory general core and cancer modules. Latent profile analysis was used to identify symptom profiles, and ordinal logistic regression and analysis of variance were used to examine predictors of symptom profile membership and profile differences on QoL.

Results: The best fit was a 3-profile model: low, moderate, and severe symptom distress. Children who had been inpatients in the past 7 days and were currently under treatment are more likely to have severe symptoms. Participants in the low symptom distress profile reported significantly greater QoL than those in the other profiles.

Conclusions: Children with cancer are heterogeneous in their experience of symptoms. Children's characteristics, such as inpatient history and treatment status, are predictors of profiles; different symptom profiles are associated with QoL.

Implications for practice: This study identified distinct groups of patients who predictably experience higher symptoms and their predictors, which could help to place children within a profile and perhaps allow nurses to provide targeted supportive care to match children's specific symptom profile.