Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research

Introduction: Each year, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer globally. Notwithstanding the vast improvement in mortality rates, cancer and its treatments can leave physical and psychological impacts on cancer survivors. Early and late oral side effects of cancer treatment include pain, dry mouth, oral infections, dental caries and problems with teeth and jaw development, as well as difficulty tasting. These oral health complications can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social impairments which can have profound impact on children’s well-being. To date, our knowledge of the effects of cancer treatment comes from clinical research, and research involving caregiver’s perspectives. This project will be the first to directly ask children about their experiences of the oral effects of cancer therapies.

Goals and Methods: The aim of this study is to better understand how the oral health effects of cancer treatments impact the well-being of children. Participants will be recruited from the Montreal Children’s Hospital. A Hermeneutic Participatory Ethnography methodology will be used in this research. We will use the ‘childhood ethics’ framework to elicit children’s voices in this research. The methods used will be observation and semi-structured interviews. We will observe discussions among children, families/friends, and healthcare providers, paying particular attention to information about the child’s well-being. We will also interview 10-15 children who are undergoing or have completed cancer treatments; their parents, and their healthcare providers.

Results Expected: Through this research, we will be able to identify how the oral health effects of cancer treatment affect these children’s lives and understand the health and social factors that influence their experiences.

Conclusion: Together with our clinical and patient partners, we will translate these results into clinical and policy changes and develop future research.