Ethical Issues in Systematic Review

This assignment delves into the ethical considerations inherent in conducting systematic reviews. It highlights key concerns such as ensuring the accuracy of collected data, protecting the confidentiality of information, and verifying the authenticity and relevance of analyzed data. The document references various sources including books, journals, and online publications to support these points.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON
LEUKAEMIA IN CHILDREN AGED
6-12 YEARS IN EUROPE

ABSTRACT
Leukaemia is a critical concern in Europe among children of age group 6 to 12
years and therefore, it is an important topic for conducting research. It helps in
determining that Leukaemia is not only harmful for children but for every person of
society who faces psychological disturbances. Societal restrictions, pressure of studies
and depression in children has become very common in modern era due to which many
of the children face health issues. The study is conducted to explore knowledge over
Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe. Further, to make study effective, the
person is focused on collecting information through secondary sources that is
systematic review on basis of research objectives. Thus, the research will base on
secondary sources and therefore scholar will focus on analysing information from
different articles and researches about children suffering from leukaemia in Europe and
its causes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1
Area and topic..............................................................................................................1
Background and context.............................................................................................. 1
Aim............................................................................................................................... 1
Objectives.................................................................................................................... 1
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW...................................................................................................2
Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe.......................................................2
Adverse effects of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe.........................3
RESEARCH QUESTION..................................................................................................3
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, THEORY, HYPOTHESIS..............................................3
METHODS....................................................................................................................... 4
Design.......................................................................................................................... 4
Sample.........................................................................................................................4
Data collection............................................................................................................. 4
Data analysis............................................................................................................... 5
SIGNIFICANCE................................................................................................................5
ETHICAL ISSUES............................................................................................................5
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Area and topic
Area: Area of research is limited to children of age group 6 to 12 in Europe.
Topic: “To explore knowledge over Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe”
Background and context
Leukaemia is a cancer which damages tissue which helps human body in
forming blood. In this case, the white blood cells start replacing red blood cells and it
occurs due to exposure of Benzene in human. Benzene is chemical compound and its
exposure in human body is on bone marrow which started decreasing red blood cells
and leads to condition of anaemia. Exposure of this chemical damages immune system
of human body and finally turns into cancer. The exposure generally occurs in children
due to their psychological development. Like, to the children who faces violence, social
isolation, failure etc. Due to this type of social environment child becomes aggressive,
which damages their body ability to form red blood cells. The simple blood test or bone
marrow test helps health professionals in diagnosing leukaemia (Lagorio and et.al.,
2013). Apart from this, the early symptoms of person suffering leukaemia are fever and
chills, weakness, fatigue, drastic weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, red spots on skin,
bleeding from nose etc.
Apparently, child suffering from this cancer is prone to infection because it
weakens immune system and the ultimate solution to control this disease is relying on
antibiotics or blood transfusion. On the other hand, chemotherapy is main intervention
which helps in treating patient suffering from leukaemia (Simone, Holland and Johnson,
2012). During therapy session, the person gets anti-cancer medication through vein
1

spinal fluid and by mouth. In addition, there is also targeted therapy given by doctors to
treat children, where treatment is given directly at targeted cancer cells and is also
effective, but on the other hand it also has side effects. Thus, it can be said that there
are various interventions and treatment measures to cure Leukaemia but it ultimately
leads to damage the human body which weakening of child immune system due to
which person become prone to allergies and infections.
Aim“To explore knowledge over Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe”
Objectives
 To ascertain condition and cause of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years
 To analyse diagnosis and intervention of Leukaemia in children
 To determine variations in intervention measure to control Leukaemia in children
aged 6-12 years
 To assess adverse effects of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe
As per Nazari and et.al., 2014, Leukaemia is a cancer which damages blood
forming tissues and it leads to critical condition where red bodily fluid cells get replaced
by white blood cells. As per the research, in which scholar studied about 100 children
suffering health issue of age group 6 to 12 in comparison to healthy group 100 children
who do not suffer from any health issue. Further, from the survey, it has been
discovered that there was no significant difference between two group of children apart
from psychological activity like lacking performance in school, isolation, negligence from
family or friend, restriction in interaction, lack of support, family violence etc. From this
2

study, it has been derived that the psychology difficulty faced by children in early ages
leads to behavioural problems which disrupts psychological status of childand turns into
cancer.
However, according to study, it can be said that yes, age is the demographic factor
which is related to cause of leukaemia. The person facing huge mental pressure in early
age tends to develop this type of cancer in the future. In contrast, Vinceti and et.al.,
2012, state that leukaemia in child leads to development of abnormal white blood cells
in bone marrow. The exposure of Benzene leads to quick travel of white bodily fluid in
blood stream to damage healthy cells which make human body prone to infection and
allergies. In this research, the scholar conducted population based control study in
Northern Italy community which considers 83 cases of childhood leukaemia which were
diagnosed in between year 1998 to 2009. When researcher compares the person
suffering from cancer then it was discovered that mostly individuals were children below
5 years and were strong case of chronic myeloid leukemia than for acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia.
Diagnosis and intervention, measures to control Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years
According to Ma and et.al., 2009, diagnosing leukaemia is a medical procedure
where the professional seek consent from family for certain clinical test that includes
Bone marrow tests and blood tests. Diagnosing it in early stages is quite difficult as it
demonstrates symptoms like norm fever and chills but severe symptom of the cause in
children are red spots on skin all over body, weakness, fatigue, drastic weight loss, pale
skin, shortness of breath, etc. Further, Vinceti and et.al., 2012, has argued that
Leukaemia can be diagnosed by child getting easily infected because decrease in blood
3

cells reduces the immune ability of human body due to which person gets easily sick
and allergic. The increasing causes and lacking immune system also lead to food
intolerance due to which person avoids eating. Therefore, it has been determined that it
can be diagnosed with its symptoms in children in swelling of abdomen, pain in joins,
easy bruising and bleeding like from gums and acute sensitivity to climate.
In contrast to this, as per study in Europe by Ma and et.al., 2009, it has been
found that leukaemia in children is increasing due to emotion and behavioural problems
faced by child on daily basis such as restriction from society, failure in school, family
circumstances, etc. Similarly, in contrast to this study, as per Katherine and et.al., 1999,
it has been analysed that behavioural intervention is the best practice which can help
children in reducing distress as it is focused on contingency management in cooperating
with behavioural changes of child in different situations. This helps in controlling child’s
behaviour which is a common cause of aggression that leads to psychological l
disorder. In this intervention plan, the scholar derived about contingency manager which
is focused on social environment of child suffering from leukaemia. Apart from this, the
techniques of intervention plan are based on planning activities to distract child and
involving him or her in positive learning environment. The behavioural intervention is
based on motivating person to take part in friendly activities.
Adverse effects of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe
Egunsola, Choonara and Sammons, 2016, had stated about adverse events of
leukaemia in child like, somnolence and behavioural disorders. The adverse events are
anaysed by scholar after analysing views of sixty-seven articles which comprise study of
3174 paediatric patients. Similarly, Kotecha and et.al., 2014, have also discussed by
4

adverse effects of leukaemia is disorder in child which can be related to behaviours
eating, anxiety and depression. It is the situation which reduces tolerance ability of
individuals due to which child becomes vulnerable as the causes become their major
weakness which also restricts their mental growth.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 What is the condition and cause of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years?
 How can Leukaemia in children diagnosed and suggest appropriate measures to
control diseases?
 What variations occur in intervention measures when implemented to control
Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years?
 What are the adverse effects of Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in
Europe?
5

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, THEORY, HYPOTHESIS
Behavioural intervention is the theory or practice which helps in setting
appropriate measures around children suffering from leukaemia in order to control their
diseases and develop sense of living in children. However, as per research, it can be
said that the common cause of leukaemia in children of age group 6 to 12 years is
disturbance in psychological status due to family circumstances, social restriction,
failure in studies, etc.
6

METHODS
Research methodology is the step which offers different research tools to support
study of researcher. It helps the scholar in deriving appropriate steps to collect and
design as well as analyse data. It sets an appropriate path which makes entire study
easy and considerable by framing blue print to entire research process which
determines further consideration (Smith, 2017). The methods help researcher in
developing critical understanding over research aim and objectives which help in
analysing the best research tool which can be used for data collection and information
analysis.
Design
Research design is a tool which helps the investigator in setting blue print of
study which derives roadmap to entire study (Hogg, 2010). It is effective because in this,
the person aims at addressing appropriate outcomes at right time. There are various
kinds of research designs like explanatory, exploratory, descriptive, etc. Thus, in this
research, scholar will implement use of exploratory research design where person will
be able to explore different sources to attain aim of study which will help in exploring
knowledge over Leukaemia in children aged 6-12 years in Europe.
Sample
Sampling is the most crucial part of research process as in this, researcher
simplifies sources to extract data. It is process of choosing small group of participants
for research from large group of population It is the situation where every source has
equal chance of getting selected by researcher. There are different sampling methods
such as random, cluster, stratified, etc. In this study, individuals will implement the use
7

of random sampling. Further, with the help of random sampling, researcher will choose
sources which will assist person in attaining research objective.
Data collection
Data collection is core to study with the help of which researcher is able to collect
information to accomplish aim of research. Generally, there are two data collection
methods, that is, primary and secondary where in primary data collection, researcher
collects information through interview, questionnaire, focus group, observation, etc.
(Rubin and Babbie, 2016). However, in secondary data collection method, the
information is gathered through sources like articles, governmental publications,
magazines, etc. Primary is based on present collected information while secondary is
focused on past studies. Thus, in this research, the scholar will implement use of
secondary sources and will outline systematic review on Leukaemia in children aged 6-
12 years in Europe.
Data analysis
Data analysis is a research tool which helps in deriving findings from collected
data. It is the step which assists in drawing conclusion on research topic. There are two
types of data analysis methods, that is, qualitative and quantitative where quantifiable
analysis which helps the researcher in outlining findings with the help of numerical and
mathematical terms (Rubin and Babbie, 2016). On other hand, in qualitative analysis,
person makes prediction on gathered information on the basis of observation. Thus, in
this research, the scholar will implement qualitative analysis where person will analyse
collected information from different articles based on systematic review.
8

SIGNIFICANCESignificance of this study is to ascertain risk from
society creating awareness about the causes of Leukaemia in
children.
 It will help in developing knowledge over the intervention measures that can help
society in Europe in controlling cause of Leukaemia in children.
ETHICAL ISSUES
 The ethical concern in systematic review information collection is accuracy of
data.
 Confidentiality of information (Ormerod and Ulrich, 2013)
 Relevancy and authenticity of collected and analysed information
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Egunsola, O., Choonara, I. and Sammons, H.M., 2016. Safety of Levetiracetam in
Paediatrics: a systematic review. PloS one. 11(3). p.e0149686.
Lagorio, S. and et.al., 2013. Exposure to benzene and childhood leukaemia: a pilot
case-control study. BMJ open. 3(2). p.e002275.
Kotecha, R.S. and et.al., 2014. The evolution of clinical trials for infant acute
lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood cancer journal. 4(4). p.e200.
Nazari, S. and et.al., 2014. Emotional/behavioral problems in children with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia: a case-control study. International journal of
hematology-oncology and stem cell research. 8(2). p.14.
Vinceti, M. and et.al., 2012. Leukemia risk in children exposed to benzene and PM 10
from vehicular traffic: a case–control study in an Italian population. European
journal of epidemiology, 27(10), pp.781-790.
Simone, J.V., Holland, E. and Johnson, W., 2012. Fatalities during remission of
childhood leukemia. Blood. 39(6). pp.759-770.
Katherine N. and et.al., 1999. Behavioral interventions in the diagnosis, treatment and
rehabilitation of children with cancer. Acta Oncologica. 38(6). pp.719-734.
10

Ma, X. and et.al., 2009. Infection and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood
Cells, Molecules, and Diseases. 42(2). pp.117-120.
Ormerod, J. R. and Ulrich, W., 2013. Operational research and ethics: A literature
review. European Journal of Operational Research. 228(2). Pp.291-307.
Rubin, A. and Babbie, E.R., 2016. Empowerment series: Research methods for social
work. Cengage Learning.
Hogg, K. M., 2010. Composing Qualitative Research. Qualitative Market Research: An
International Journal. 11(4). pp.439–443.
Online
Smith, W., 2017. Research onion - – Made easy to understand and follow. [Online].
Available through: <https://www.allassignmenthelp.co.uk/blog/research-onion-
made-easy-to-understand-and-follow/>.
11