Facilitation of school re-entry and peer acceptance of children with cancer: a review and meta-analysis of intervention studies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Facilitation of school re-entry and peer acceptance of children with cancer

T2 - a review and meta-analysis of intervention studies

AU - Helms, A S

AU - Schmiegelow, K

AU - Brok, J

AU - Johansen, C

AU - Thorsteinsson, T

AU - Simovska, V

AU - Larsen, H B

N1 - © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2016/1/1

Y1 - 2016/1/1

N2 - Increased survival rates from childhood cancer call for efforts to reintegrate children with cancer back into their academic and social environments. The aims of this study were to: (1) review and analyse the existing literature on school re-entry interventions for children with cancer; and (2) discuss the importance of peer involvement in the treatment. Relevant databases were searched using equivalent search algorithms and six studies were selected that target children with cancer and/or their classmates. Two authors independently reviewed the literature for data extraction. The articles were reviewed using the PRISMA model for reporting reviews. Statistical calculations for the meta-analyses were done using Review Manager 5.2. The meta-analyses showed significant effects of school re-entry programmes in terms of enhancing academic achievement in children with cancer (P = 0.008) and lowering their levels of depression (P = 0.05). Increased knowledge among classmates was associated with less fear and a more positive attitude towards the child with cancer. Due to limited numbers of patients, lack of control groups, and the diversity of intervention strategies used in previous studies, there is a need for intervention programmes exploring the optimal path for the reintegration of children with cancer into the education system and into their peer groups.

AB - Increased survival rates from childhood cancer call for efforts to reintegrate children with cancer back into their academic and social environments. The aims of this study were to: (1) review and analyse the existing literature on school re-entry interventions for children with cancer; and (2) discuss the importance of peer involvement in the treatment. Relevant databases were searched using equivalent search algorithms and six studies were selected that target children with cancer and/or their classmates. Two authors independently reviewed the literature for data extraction. The articles were reviewed using the PRISMA model for reporting reviews. Statistical calculations for the meta-analyses were done using Review Manager 5.2. The meta-analyses showed significant effects of school re-entry programmes in terms of enhancing academic achievement in children with cancer (P = 0.008) and lowering their levels of depression (P = 0.05). Increased knowledge among classmates was associated with less fear and a more positive attitude towards the child with cancer. Due to limited numbers of patients, lack of control groups, and the diversity of intervention strategies used in previous studies, there is a need for intervention programmes exploring the optimal path for the reintegration of children with cancer into the education system and into their peer groups.

U2 - 10.1111/ecc.12230

DO - 10.1111/ecc.12230

M3 - Review

C2 - 25204197

SN - 0961-5423

VL - 25

SP - 170

EP - 179

JO - European Journal of Cancer Care

JF - European Journal of Cancer Care

IS - 1

ER -