Children's Oncology Group's 2013 blueprint for research: nursing discipline

Abstract

Integration of the nursing discipline within cooperative groups conducting pediatric oncology clinical trials provides unique opportunities to maximize nursing's contribution to clinical care, and to pursue research questions that extend beyond cure of disease to address important gaps in knowledge surrounding the illness experience. Key areas of importance to the advancement of the nursing discipline's scientific knowledge are understanding the effective delivery of patient/family education, and reducing illness-related distress, both of which are integral to facilitating parental/child coping with the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer, and to promoting resilience and well-being of pediatric oncology patients and their families.

Figure 1

Nursing Discipline Organizational Structure within a Cooperative Group

Figure 2

Framework for Nursing Research Adopted by the Children’s Oncology Group: Resilience in Individuals and Families Affected by Cancer (based on Haase’s Resilience in Illness Model [37]). Constructs within circles represent key areas of influence on child and family resilience and well-being (red = negative influences; blue = positive influences; green = overall goal for care of children and families affected by cancer). Symbols depict positive (+) and negative (-) evidence-based relationships between each area of influence, based on current research findings.