Impact of Internet Addiction on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Chinese Children Aged 8 to 18 Years With Malignant Tumors: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores how internet addiction affects mental health and well-being in Chinese children with cancer.

Contribution

The study is the first to investigate internet addiction's impact on patient-reported outcomes in children with malignant tumors in China.

Findings

29% of children with malignant tumors showed signs of internet addiction.

Internet addiction was linked to higher depression, anger, anxiety, and fatigue scores.

Higher internet addiction scores predicted worse mental health outcomes.

Abstract

Background

In the context of the digital era, the deep integration of the Internet and the medical field has shown two sides in the treatment and rehabilitation of children with malignant tumors. However, the problem of Internet addiction (IA) behind Internet use in these children - and its potential threat to their health status - has not yet attracted widespread attention. The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of IA on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in Chinese children aged 8 to 18 years with malignant tumors.

Methods

From October 2023 to May 2024, a continuous sampling of 300 children aged 8 to 18 with malignant tumors was conducted at the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Child Health and Diseases in Chongqing. IA was assessed using the Internet addiction test (IAT). In contrast, the Chinese version of the Pediatric Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (C-Ped-PROMIS) was used to evaluate the PROs. The relationship between these variables was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models.

Results

Out of 300 children, 87 (29.0%) showed signs of IA, with elementary school students having a significantly lower rate than students in middle school and above (p = 0.005). IA was positively correlated with depression (r = 0.127, p < 0.05), anger (r = 0.130, p < 0.05), anxiety (r = 0.158, p < 0.01), and fatigue (r = 0.129, p < 0.05) scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that elevated IAT scores were significant negative predictors of depression, anger, anxiety, and fatigue (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Children aged 8 to 18 years with malignant tumors face a higher risk of IA, which is closely related to some self-reported outcomes. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the Internet usage issues of children with malignant tumors, guiding them to use the Internet wisely to improve their mental health and overall well-being.

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