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. 2021 Feb 26;47(1):43.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-021-00993-x.

Safety and family satisfaction of a home-delivered chemotherapy program for children with cancer

Lucia De Zen  1 , Irene Del Rizzo  2 , Luca Ronfani  3 , Francesca Barbieri  4 , Marco Rabusin  5 , Roberto Dall'Amico  4 , Egidio Barbi  6   7 , Margherita Robazza  4
Affiliations

Safety and family satisfaction of a home-delivered chemotherapy program for children with cancer

Lucia De Zen et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Home chemotherapy programs for children with cancer are safe and feasible, and their impact on the quality of life has been reported in different countries. A home chemotherapy program was implemented between 2011 and 2019 in an Italian region. This pilot study investigates its safety and feasibility, along with parental satisfaction.

Methods: Patients between 0 and 18 years diagnosed with malignancy were included. Deceased patients and patients whose families moved abroad or interrupted contact with the service were excluded. Adverse events comprised immediate deterioration of the patient's condition, equipment failure, errors in drug storage, dose or patient identification and personnel safety issues. Parental satisfaction was explored through an email survey of 32 Likert-type and short open questions.

Results: Thirty-five patients received 419 doses of intravenous chemotherapy at home (cytarabine, vincristine, vinblastine). No adverse events were reported. Twenty-three families out of 25 eligible completed the survey. Most reported being "very satisfied" with the possibility of maintaining a work/domestic routine and reducing time and financial burden of hospital access. Most were "very satisfied" with the opportunity for their child of being less troubled by the treatment. Besides, most reported being "very satisfied" with the chance for healthy siblings of maintaining their routine and coping with their brother/sister's disease. Most perceived the program as safe. All families recommended extending the program to all children in the region.

Conclusions: This first Italian study supports home chemotherapy as safe and effective, positively influencing the quality of life for children and their families.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Childhood cancer; Home assistance; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

the Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of the chemotherapy doses delivered at home for each year of the reference time interval
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Parental satisfaction related to work, travel and financial issues
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Parental satisfaction related to the psychological impact of the program on the ill child and his/her healthy sibling/siblings
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Parental satisfaction related to the perception of safety and effectiveness of the program
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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