Tuba Arslan

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exercise on psychological disorders in patients receiving childhood cancer treatment. Methods: The study group consisted of patients with cancer between the ages of 9 and 17 who were treated in the Hematology–Oncology units of Erciyes University. For the sample group, children with cancer were informed about the content of the study, and 40 children with cancer agreed to participate in the study voluntarily. The volunteers were divided into two groups, control and experimental, each consisting of 20 people. For the pre-test, participants completed a socio-demographic information form, as well as the Kovacs Depression scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the pediatric cancer quality of life scale for children. Volunteers in the experimental group engaged in aerobic and strength exercises for an eight-week period. The study was completed with 8 volunteers in the control group and 14 volunteers in the experimental group due to various factors, such as voluntary withdrawal, disease progression, and mortality. After this period, the volunteers were asked to complete the same scales once more as a post-test. The SPSS 22.00 statistical analysis program was used. The independent samples t-test was employed to compare the pre-test and post-test findings of the control and experimental groups, while the paired samples t-test was used for within-group evaluations. Results: In the within-group comparisons, significant differences were observed in favor of the post-test scores in the experimental group for both the anxiety scale (p < 0.05, Mean: 8.14) and the quality-of-life child form (p < 0.05, Mean: 38.14). For intergroup comparisons, significant differences were found in favor of the experimental group in terms of post-test scores of depression (p < 0.05, mean: 10.57) and anxiety scales (p < 0.05, mean: 8.14). Conclusions: It is postulated that this outcome stems from the positive effects of sports activities in helping children undergoing cancer treatment distance themselves from their psychological adversities.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of exercise on psychological disorders in patients receiving childhood cancer treatment. Methods: The universe of the study consisted of cancer patients between the ages of 9-17 who were treated in the Hematology-Oncology units of Erciyes University. For creating a sample group, children with cancer were informed about the content of the study. 40 children with cancer agreed to participate in the study voluntarily. The volunteers were divided into two groups, control and experimental, each consisting of 20 people. As pre test, while participants were administered a socio-demographic information form, Kovacs Depression, Beck Anxiety and child form of the pediatric cancer quality of life scale. Volunteers in the experimental group engaged in aerobic and strength ex-ercises for an eight-week period. The study was completed with 8 volunteers in the control group and 14 volunteers in the experimental group due to various factors such as voluntary withdrawal, disease progression, and mortality. After this period, the volunteers were asked to apply the same scales once more as post test. The SPSS 22.00 statistical analysis program was performed. The Independent Samples t-Test was em-ployed to compare the pre-test and post-test findings of the control and experimental groups, while the Paired Samples t-Test was used for within-group evaluations. Re-sults: In intragroup comparisons, significant differences were observed in favor of the post-test scores within the experimental group for both the anxiety scale and the qual-ity of life children's form. In intergroup comparisons, significant differences were de-tected in favor of the experimental group regarding the post-test scores of depression and anxiety scales. Conclusion: It is postulated that this outcome stems from the posi-tive effects of sports activities in helping children undergoing cancer treatment to dis-tance themselves from their psychological adversities.