Perception of health, welfare, body awareness and level of physical activity in pediatric oncology patients Percepción de salud, bienestar, conciencia corporal y nivel de actividad física en pacientes oncológicos infantiles

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a term that designates a broad group of diseases which affect any part of the organism. In the department of Nariño, childhood cancer has a high incidence, specifically for diagnoses of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Lymphomas. In children, this diagnosis exerts a physical and emotional stress that can lead to alterations in their well-being, body awareness and levels of physical activity, these being fundamental aspects of human body movement. Objective: To determine the perception of health, well-being, body awareness and level of physical activity in children's oncology patients at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach, with a sample of 30 child users with diagnoses of ALL and Lymphomas attended at Hospital Infantil los Ángeles. Results: The male gender prevails, as well as the low socioeconomic stratum. In the clinical characteristics, the most commonly used drugs are cytotoxic and the prevalent symptoms are headache and nausea. For the perception of health and well-being, 13% of the population presents a regular perception, as well as interoceptive body awareness where 80% present a regular body awareness level. Low and moderate levels of physical activity are evidenced. Conclusions: Children present in a lower proportion inadequate health perception related to their quality of life. Interoceptive body awareness is altered in the following components: emotional awareness, attention regulation and listening to the body. The pediatric oncologic population presents low levels of physical activity.