TY - JOUR
T1 - Hospital-based home care for children with cancer
T2 - Feasibility and psychosocial impact on children and their families
AU - Hansson, Eva Helena
AU - Kjaergaard, Hanne
AU - Johansen, Christoffer
AU - Hallström, Inger
AU - Christensen, Jane Hvarregaard
AU - Madsen, Marianne
AU - Schmiegelow, Kjeld
N1 - Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Background: To assess the feasibility and psychosocial impact of a hospital-based home care (HBHC) program for children with cancer. Procedure: A HBHC program was carried out with 51 children (0-18 years) with cancer to assess its feasibility in terms of satisfaction, care preferences, safety, and cost. A controlled trial was conducted to assess children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the parent-reported and self-reported PedsQL Generic Core Scale and PedsQL Cancer Module, and the psychosocial impact on the family by PedsQL Family Impact Module comprising a subsample of 28 children and 43 parents in the home care group, and 47 children and 66 parents receiving standard hospital care. Results: All parents in the HBHC program were satisfied and preferred home care. There were no serious adverse events associated with HBHC, and costs did not increase. When adjusting for age, gender, diagnosis and time since diagnosis, we found significant higher HRQOL scores in parent-reported physical health (P=0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.2-19.5) and worry (P=0.04; 95% CI: -0.4-20.6) in the home-care group indicating better physical health and less worry for children in the home-care group. No significant difference was found in the Family Impact Module. Conclusion: This study indicates that HBHC is a feasible alternative to hospital care for children with cancer, and is greatly preferred by parents. Specific aspects of children's HRQOL may be improved with HBHC and the psychosocial burden on the family does not increase.
AB - Background: To assess the feasibility and psychosocial impact of a hospital-based home care (HBHC) program for children with cancer. Procedure: A HBHC program was carried out with 51 children (0-18 years) with cancer to assess its feasibility in terms of satisfaction, care preferences, safety, and cost. A controlled trial was conducted to assess children's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using the parent-reported and self-reported PedsQL Generic Core Scale and PedsQL Cancer Module, and the psychosocial impact on the family by PedsQL Family Impact Module comprising a subsample of 28 children and 43 parents in the home care group, and 47 children and 66 parents receiving standard hospital care. Results: All parents in the HBHC program were satisfied and preferred home care. There were no serious adverse events associated with HBHC, and costs did not increase. When adjusting for age, gender, diagnosis and time since diagnosis, we found significant higher HRQOL scores in parent-reported physical health (P=0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.2-19.5) and worry (P=0.04; 95% CI: -0.4-20.6) in the home-care group indicating better physical health and less worry for children in the home-care group. No significant difference was found in the Family Impact Module. Conclusion: This study indicates that HBHC is a feasible alternative to hospital care for children with cancer, and is greatly preferred by parents. Specific aspects of children's HRQOL may be improved with HBHC and the psychosocial burden on the family does not increase.
U2 - 10.1002/pbc.24474
DO - 10.1002/pbc.24474
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23335455
SN - 1545-5009
JO - Pediatric Blood and Cancer
JF - Pediatric Blood and Cancer
ER -
