Developmental surveillance and screening practices in a pediatric oncology clinic: Initial progress of a quality improvement study.
Psychooncology
; 33(5): e6348, 2024 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38730533
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Pediatric cancer patients' oncology teams regularly take on a primary care role, but due to the urgent nature of cancer treatment, developmental screenings may be deprioritized. This leaves patients at risk of developmental diagnoses and referrals being delayed.AIMS:
Clarify the current developmental surveillance and screening practices of one pediatric oncology team. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Researchers reviewed charts for patients (n = 66) seen at a pediatric oncology clinic in a suburban academic medical center to determine engagement in developmental screening (including functioning around related areas such as speech, neurocognition, etc.) and referrals for care in these areas.RESULTS:
Developmental histories were collected from all patients through admission history and physical examination (H&P), but there was no routinized follow-up. Physicians did not conduct regular developmental screening per American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for any patients but identified n = 3 patients with needs while the psychology team routinely surveilled all patients seen during this time (n = 41) and identified n = 18 patients as having delays.DISCUSSION:
Physicians did not routinely screen for development needs beyond H&P and were inconsistent in developmental follow-up/referrals. Integrated psychologists were key in generating referrals for developmental-based care. However, many oncology patients were not seen by psychologists quickly or at all, creating a significant gap in care during a crucial developmental period.CONCLUSION:
The case is made for further routinization of ongoing developmental screening in pediatric oncology care.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Asunto principal:
Derivación y Consulta
/
Discapacidades del Desarrollo
/
Mejoramiento de la Calidad
/
Neoplasias
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Psychooncology
Asunto de la revista:
NEOPLASIAS
/
PSICOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos