[Evaluation of family satisfaction in pediatric oncology]. / La valutazione della soddisfazione delle famiglie in oncologia pediatrica.

The satisfaction for the care receveid following the diagnosis of acute linfoblastic leukemia in the Pediatric Division of the San Gerardo Hospital of Monza was explored with a questionnaire to the families of patients diagnosed from January 1984. 217 questionnaires were returned (59.2%); 67% were completed by both parents. Parents expressed overall a very high satisfaction for several areas of care: 93.8% for the information about diagnosis; 83% approved the use of the word "leukemia". Judgements on technical competence and communication skills of the health care professionals were analyzed separately for hospitalized and day-hospital patients, and for survivors and dead: results were highly positive for both groups. The expected higher of missing data for the questions related to satisfaction for communication on relapses, highlights the difficulty and the emotional load of the question. Data were discussed by the health care team as well as parents in order to obtain a feedback and practical suggestions for further improvement of care.

Care of the hospitalized adult patient with leukemia.

Leukemia has often been thought of as a disease of children; however, it actually affects more adults than children. The American Cancer Society has estimated an incidence of 23,500 new cases of leukemia in the United States in 1982. This number includes an estimated 21,000 new cases in adults and 2500 new cases in children. While the incidence of leukemia is greater in adults, progress in the treatment of leukemia has been greater in children. Leukemia refers to a group of diseases characterized by malignant transformation of either hematopoietic cells or their precursors and the subsequent neoplastic proliferation of abnormal cells that are impaired in maturation and functional capability.