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Objectives. The aim of the study was to explore siblings' knowledge about cancer, perceived changes in relationship with parents, problem behavior and quality of life of siblings of pediatric oncology patients. Subjects and settings. Subjects were 34 siblings age 7 to 16 (average aged 11.3 years, 19 girls) three to nine months after diagnosis (average time from diagnoses 6,6 months). Hypothesis. We expected lower quality of life and higher problem behavior in study sample in comparison to healthy population. Instruments and statistical analyses. Sibling Perception Questionnaire was used for assessing information about disease and relationship with parents, Child Behavior Checklist to assess problem behavior, and Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument to evaluate quality of life. Differences between groups were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results. The results showed that siblings are relatively well informed about the disease and treatment of sick child and that they are not experiencing behavioral problems. However, younger siblings reported the wish to spend more time with their parents and adolescents have lower life satisfaction than comparison groups. Results also showed presence of myths about the disease. Study limitations. The main limitation of the study is effect of self-selection of participants as only 31% addressed families entered the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

the life of all family members. The changes in regime, rhythm, and life-style take place. It is quite natural that maximum of the care and interest of parents, health workers, friends and relatives is devoted to the ill child. The needs and interests of healthy siblings are shifted to second-rate place. The healthy siblings of children with oncology disease are nevertheless exposed to many demanding changes that may be difficult to cope with - e.g. changes in roles of particular family members, necessity of greater independence and responsibility, restriction of own social and interest activities. Children describe flooding by strong feelings, as e.g. isolation, refusal, anxiety, sorrow, fear, anger, jealousness, envy, and guilt. The lack of information leads to rise of myths and apprehension of the worst. The research results point to the fact that the early psychologicaleducational intervention can help to facilitate the adaptation and to prevent from the rise of later possible mental problems. The minimal attention is still paid to the problems of experiencing the oncology disease from the standpoint of healthy siblings of ill children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]