Photo by Bill Branson
Pediatric cancer patient
A new checklist could improve education for parents and other caregivers of children newly diagnosed with cancer, according to a group of nurses.
The checklist is divided into topics that should be taught according to their level of urgency.
The list includes subjects that should be discussed prior to patients’ initial hospital discharge and topics that can be covered later, either within the first month of the patients’ cancer diagnosis or before patients complete therapy.
Cheryl Rodgers, PhD, RN, and her colleagues provided details on this checklist in the Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing.
A team of 19 nurses and 2 parent advocates from the Children’s Oncology Group developed the checklist based on existing education checklists, expert recommendations, and team-based activities and discussions.
The checklist is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary topics.
Primary topics are those that should be discussed with caregivers before they leave the hospital the first time. Examples include home medication dose and frequency, who and when to call for help, preventing infection, and treatment side effects to know before the next appointment.
Secondary topics are those that can be covered during the first month after a child’s cancer diagnosis. Examples include an explanation of what cancer is, an overview of chemotherapy, and more details on the side effects of cancer treatment.
Tertiary topics can be discussed before the child finishes cancer treatment. Examples include details on tests and procedures, risky behaviors to avoid, coping skills, and insurance issues.
Dr Rodgers and her colleagues said this checklist provides nurses with a clear outline of topics that should be discussed with caregivers immediately and topics that can be safely deferred. This could prevent information overload and help caregivers remember the most important information.