Feasibility of three times weekly symptom screening in pediatric cancer patients.

Objective: Primary objective was to determine the feasibility of three times weekly symptom reporting by pediatric cancer patients for eight weeks.

Methods: We included English-speaking patients 8-18 years of age with cancer. Patients were sent reminders by text or email to complete Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) three times weekly for eight weeks.

Creating and adapting an infection management care pathway in pediatric oncology.

Purpose: While care pathways based upon clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are important, little is known about optimal approaches to development and adaptation in pediatric oncology. Objectives were to develop care pathway templates for pediatric cancer supportive care that are based upon CPGs and to adapt an infection management care pathway for use at a single institution.

Methods: Study phases were as follows: (1) creation of care pathway templates across multiple supportive care topics; (2) refinement of the infection management care pathway template by interviewing pediatric oncology clinicians at a single institution; and (3) adaptation of the infection management care pathway template for use at a different institution.

Self-reported positive impact of mentored clinical research training is associated with academic success in hematology.

The American Society of Hematology Clinical Research Training Institute (CRTI) is a mentored training program for hematology fellows and junior faculty. Our objective was to determine whether the self-reported impact of CRTI on research retention, career development, and connectedness to hematology investigators was associated with academic success. A survey was distributed in January 2020 to alumni who participated in the program from 2003 to 2019.

Identifying clinical practice guidelines for symptom control in pediatric oncology.

Background: Children with cancer commonly experience distressing symptoms such as pain, fatigue and nausea. Improvements in patient outcomes have been associated with implementation of clinical practice guideline-consistent care across several domains. The objective of this study was to develop a process to identify symptom management clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) applicable to children and adolescents receiving cancer treatments.

Reasons for disagreement between proxy-report and self-report rating of symptoms in children receiving cancer therapies.

Purpose: To qualitatively describe reasons for disagreement in ratings of bothersome symptoms between child self-report and parent proxy-report.

Methods: We enrolled child and parent dyads, who understood English and where children (4-18 years of age) were diagnosed with cancer or were hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. Each child and parent separately reported symptoms using self-report or proxy-report Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi).

Discordance between pediatric self-report and parent proxy-report symptom scores and creation of a dyad symptom screening tool (co-SSPedi).

Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) (age 8-18 years) and mini-SSPedi (age 4-7 years) can be used to self-report and proxy-report bothersome symptoms in pediatric patients receiving cancer treatments. There are limitations of sole child self-report or proxy-report. An approach in which children and parents complete symptom reports together may be useful.

"We are the best to stand in for patients": a qualitative study on nurses' advocacy characteristics in Ghana.

Background: Patient advocacy has been identified as a core duty of the nurse, and certain nurse characteristics influence the performance of the role. However, these characteristics have not been adequately explored in Ghana. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of nurses about the characteristics of nurses that influence their role as patient advocates.