Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Adaptation Strategies for Coping With the Impact of Sensory Alterations on Eating Behavior in Children With Cancer: A Qualitative Study From the Perspective of Children and Parents

Chemotherapy for childhood cancer can often change how food tastes and smells, making it hard for children to eat well. This study wants to understand exactly how these changes affect children and their families, and what strategies they use to manage. Researchers will talk to children and their parents to hear their experiences directly. The goal is to find practical, real-life tips and useful guidance to help children with cancer maintain good nutrition and improve their overall well-being and quality of life during treatment. By giving families a voice, the study hopes to make a real difference in supportive care.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

Centre Leon Berard

Enrolment target

Start

01 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2026

Taste Alterations Smell Disorder Eating Behavior Changes

What is this study about?

When children are being treated for cancer, especially with chemotherapy, they can experience challenging side effects. One common and often upsetting side effect is a change in how food tastes and smells. Foods they once loved might suddenly taste unpleasant, or certain smells could make them feel sick. This can lead to children eating less, losing weight, and feeling quite down about food, which makes coping with treatment even harder.

Doctors and researchers know these changes happen, but they don't fully understand how children experience them, or what helps families manage. While adults with cancer have shared their experiences, children's perspectives can be very different. Parents also play a huge part in helping their child, but sometimes what parents think helps might not be the same as what the child feels or needs. This study aims to bridge that gap by listening directly to children and their parents.

The study hopes to find out more about how these taste and smell changes affect a child's eating habits, their feelings, and even their social life. It will explore what coping strategies children and their parents use, both at home and in the hospital. By gathering these real-life experiences, the study aims to discover practical ways to improve nutritional support and guidance for children with cancer. Ultimately, this research hopes to help these children feel better, have a better quality of life, and get the most out of their treatment.

Key takeaways

It's a study focusing on children with cancer and how their taste and smell change due to chemotherapy.
It aims to understand these changes from the perspective of both children and parents.
The goal is to find practical coping strategies to help children eat better and feel more comfortable.
Participation involves sharing experiences through interviews.
The research hopes to improve future support and quality of life for children with cancer.
It's about listening to families to make a real difference in care.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for children aged between 6 and 17 who have been diagnosed with cancer and are currently receiving chemotherapy. They need to be able to talk about their experiences and agree to take part. They also need to have started their chemotherapy treatment at least two months before joining the study.

We're also looking for their parents or legal guardians to take part. Parents need to be able to understand the study, give their permission for their child (and themselves) to participate, and be able to communicate effectively. Both children and parents taking part must be able to understand, read, and write in French, as the interviews will be conducted in French.

Unfortunately, if a child is under 6 or over 17, or hasn't started chemotherapy yet, or if they or their parent can't speak French, they wouldn't be able to join this particular study. The main idea is to hear from children undergoing chemotherapy and their parents about their specific challenges with taste and smell.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is your child aged between 6 and 17?
Does your child have cancer and receive chemotherapy?
Has your child been on chemotherapy for at least 2 months?
Can you and your child comfortably speak, read, and write French?
Are you able to agree for your child and yourself to take part?
Are you happy to share your experiences and ideas?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you and your child join this study, it would involve taking part in one or more individual interviews. These interviews are 'semi-structured', which means there will be a list of topics to discuss, but you'll also have the chance to share your own experiences and feelings in your own words. These conversations will explore how changes in taste, smell, and food textures affect your child, their emotions, and their daily life, as well as the strategies you've both found helpful. There are no medications or special assessments involved, as this is an observational study focusing on your experiences. The total duration of your involvement would depend on the number and length of interviews, which would be explained fully before you agree to take part.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits. It gives you and your child a valuable opportunity to share your experiences, which can be empowering. The information you provide could directly help improve support and guidance for other children with cancer and their families in the future. There are very few direct risks; the interviews are designed to be a safe space to share feelings, but talking about challenging experiences can sometimes be emotional. You are always free to pause or stop the interview at any time, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any point without giving a reason, and this will not affect your child's medical care in any way.

Locations (1)

Institut d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie Pédiatrique
Verified postcode
Lyon, France

Common questions

What is this study trying to find out?

It wants to understand how taste and smell changes from cancer treatment affect children and their families, and what helps them cope.

Who can take part in this study?

Children aged 6-17 with cancer on chemotherapy, and their parents, who can speak French.

What will we have to do if we join?

You and your child will have individual interviews to talk about your experiences with taste and smell changes.

Will taking part affect my child's treatment?

No, this is an observational study. It will not affect your child's medical care or treatment plan.

Are there any medicines or extra tests involved?

No, this study only involves interviews to gather your experiences; there are no new medicines or extra tests.

How to find out more

Samia Saraya

ssaraya-jean@institutlyfe.com +33767889375 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.