Baughan, N., Pell, J. P. , Mackay, D. F. , Clark, D., King, A. and Fleming, M. (2023) Educational outcomes in childhood cancer survivors: a Scotland-wide record-linkage study of 766,217 schoolchildren. PLoS ONE, 18(7), e0286840. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286840) (PMID:37494295) (PMCID:PMC10370705)
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Abstract
Background: A cancer diagnosis during childhood greatly disrupts the lives of those affected, causing physical and psychological challenges. We aim to investigate educational outcomes among schoolchildren with a previous cancer diagnosis compared to their peers. Methods: Individual records from four national education databases and three national health databases were linked to construct a cohort of all singleton schoolchildren born in Scotland attending Scottish local-authority schools between 2009–2013. Pupils previously diagnosed with any cancer, haematological cancers, and central nervous system (CNS) cancers, were compared to their unaffected peers with respect to five educational outcomes: special educational need (SEN), absenteeism, school exclusion, academic attainment, and unemployment. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and maternity factors and chronic conditions. Results: Of 766,217 pupils, 1,313 (0.17%) had a previous cancer diagnosis. Children with any cancer had increased odds of SEN (OR 3.26, 95% CI 2.86–3.71), absenteeism (IRR 1.82, 95% CI 1.70–1.94), and low attainment (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.52–3.03) compared to their peers. Similar findings were observed for haematological (SEN OR 2.62, 95% CI 2.12–3.24; absenteeism IRR 2.04, 95% CI 1.85–2.25; low attainment OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.31–3.61) and CNS (SEN OR 6.44, 95% CI 4.91–8.46; absenteeism IRR 1.75, 95% CI 1.51–2.04; low attainment OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.52–7.30) cancers. Lower exclusions were observed among children with any cancer (IRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.83) and CNS cancer (IRR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06–0.61). No associations were observed with unemployment. Conclusions: This study highlights the wider impacts of childhood cancer on educational outcomes. These children need to be supported, as poor educational outcomes can further impact later health.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Pell, Professor Jill and Fleming, Dr Michael and Mackay, Professor Daniel |
Creator Roles: | Pell, J. P.Methodology, Writing – review and editing Mackay, D. F.Methodology, Writing – review and editing Fleming, M.Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing |
Authors: | Baughan, N., Pell, J. P., Mackay, D. F., Clark, D., King, A., and Fleming, M. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health |
Journal Name: | PLoS ONE |
Publisher: | Public Library of Science |
ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
ISSN (Online): | 1932-6203 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 Baughan et al. |
First Published: | First published in PLoS ONE 18(7): e0286840 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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