'Enough is enough': Qualitative findings on the impact of dexamethasone during reinduction/consolidation for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

The results of a longitudinal study conducted with children undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and their families in Brisbane, Australia, indicate that the emotional impact of one of the protocol drugs, dexamethasone, is acutely distressing. The findings presented cover the second interviews with the parents and children of the first 11 ALL families to have completed the re-consolidation stage of treatment. The results indicate that the negative impact of this drug is particularly severe during the reconsolidation stage, when families are exhausted with coping with the intensity of treatment. Thus, the administration of dexamethasone is a critical point in the pathway of care for children with ALL. The emotional consequences of the drug are profoundly disturbing, not only for the child, but for the whole family. The findings indicate that the period when dexamethasone is being administered is an important time for providing families with emotional support and information about likely sequelae of treatment. Because of guilt and self-doubt parents will not necessarily seek help, even if it is greatly needed. Recommendations are provided as to possible ways of reducing the distressing impact of the administration of this pharmaceutical intervention