A hopeful image representing improved quality of life for children with lymphoma in Malawi.

Unlocking Hope: How Quality of Life Assessments Are Changing Pediatric Lymphoma Care in Malawi

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a groundbreaking study is using translated and culturally validated tools to measure and improve the health-related quality of life for young lymphoma patients in sub-Saharan Africa."

In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where 84% of childhood cancers occur, limited access to care significantly impacts survival rates. While advancements in cancer treatment aim to improve survival, it's equally important to enhance the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for these young patients during and after their treatment.

Over the past decade, there's been an increasing emphasis on using patient-reported outcomes (PRO) to evaluate how diseases and treatments affect a patient's mental, physical, and social well-being. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) network in 2004 to standardize HRQoL assessments.

Despite internationally validated tools, there's a gap in translating and culturally adapting these tools for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly for children. A recent study bridges this gap by translating and validating PROMIS pediatric measures into Chichewa, a local language in Malawi. This initiative aims to give young patients a voice in their cancer care, ensuring treatments address their holistic well-being.

PROMIS-25: A New Lens for Understanding Pediatric Lymphoma in Malawi

A hopeful image representing improved quality of life for children with lymphoma in Malawi.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) offers a standardized way to measure a patient's well-being. Researchers focused on the PROMIS-25 pediatric short form because it covers major aspects of HRQoL with fewer questions. This makes it ideal for busy clinics with limited resources.

The PROMIS-25 tool assesses six key areas:

Mobility
Anxiety
Depressive symptoms
Fatigue
Peer relationships
Pain interference

In a groundbreaking effort, the PROMIS-25 was translated into Chichewa. This ensures the questions are not only linguistically accurate but also culturally relevant. By adapting the tool to the local context, healthcare providers can gain a deeper understanding of how lymphoma and its treatment affect the daily lives of young patients in Malawi.

A Brighter Future for Pediatric Cancer Care in Malawi

By giving young patients a voice, healthcare providers can offer more holistic and effective care. This study paves the way for similar initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live, receive cancer care that addresses their physical, mental, and social well-being. Further studies are ongoing to assess how HRQoL changes during active treatment and in remission. These findings will help healthcare providers to improve the quality of life of children with lymphoma in Malawi.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What is the primary goal of the PROMIS-25 pediatric tool in Malawi?

The primary goal of the PROMIS-25 pediatric tool in Malawi is to assess and address the unique challenges faced by children with lymphoma. This involves measuring their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), encompassing their mental, physical, and social well-being. By using the PROMIS-25, healthcare providers can gain a deeper understanding of how lymphoma and its treatment affect the daily lives of young patients in Malawi, ultimately aiming for more holistic and effective care.

Why was the PROMIS-25 tool chosen for use with pediatric lymphoma patients in Malawi, and what does it assess?

The PROMIS-25 pediatric short form was selected due to its efficiency and comprehensive coverage of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) aspects. The tool is designed to be used in busy clinics with limited resources. It assesses six key areas: mobility, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, peer relationships, and pain interference. These domains collectively provide a broad overview of a patient's well-being, crucial for understanding the impact of lymphoma and its treatments.

How does the translation of the PROMIS-25 tool into Chichewa contribute to improving pediatric lymphoma care in Malawi?

The translation of the PROMIS-25 into Chichewa is crucial because it ensures the assessment is linguistically accurate and culturally relevant. This adaptation enables healthcare providers to effectively communicate with young patients in their native language, thereby gathering more accurate and nuanced information about their experiences. This process gives young patients a voice in their cancer care, ensuring treatments address their holistic well-being, and bridging the gap in care for children in sub-Saharan Africa.

What are the implications of using patient-reported outcomes (PROs) like those from PROMIS in the treatment of pediatric lymphoma?

Using patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as those gathered through the PROMIS-25, has significant implications for improving pediatric lymphoma treatment. By focusing on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), healthcare providers can move beyond simply treating the disease. It allows for the identification and management of issues such as anxiety, fatigue, and pain interference that significantly impact a patient's daily life. This approach leads to more holistic and effective care, addressing the physical, mental, and social well-being of young patients. It ensures that treatments are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child, improving their overall experience and potentially their long-term outcomes.

How might the findings from this study impact pediatric cancer care beyond Malawi?

The findings from the study have the potential to significantly impact pediatric cancer care beyond Malawi. By translating and validating tools like PROMIS-25, the study provides a model for other low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and regions, particularly within sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This approach can be replicated to give children in other regions a voice in their care. The study paves the way for similar initiatives, ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live, receive cancer care that addresses their physical, mental, and social well-being. Furthermore, by assessing how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes during treatment and remission, healthcare providers can improve the quality of life of children with lymphoma.