RESUMO
This paper describes the complexity of the clinical management of foreign minors suffering from cancer, through the clinical experience of an Italian referral center. The study includes 50 patients less than 18 years (22% of the patients admitted to the unit in 2023), 32 foreigners who were Italian resident and 18 who had come to Italy specifically to receive cancer treatment. Patients who migrate for healthcare reasons often arrive at the referral center with advanced disease or relapse. Numerous socio-cultural issues were reported. To address them, specific strategies were implemented to ensure equal and high-quality care for all patients, respecting their needs.
Assuntos
COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Educação a Distância , Educação , Neoplasias , Política Pública , Adolescente , Criança , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Instituições AcadêmicasRESUMO
Dealing with a serious illness always implies, and particularly for a child, important physical and psychological stresses. If on the one hand, the adult could have adaption's resources which allow him to deal with the illness's implications, on the other hand, for a child, the interference of the disease with growing steps may cause serious problems. For this reason, the clinicians and the family have to support the educational and social continuity of the child's interactions. The school experience, in fact, helps and supports the psychological and social development of the patient. This article has the aim of describing the experiences of the authors considering the Italian legislation, discussing the scientific literature and the approaches and resources which can be used in order to maintain the children within their school career. The experiences of the authors have been collected in the Paediatric Unit of an oncology's hospital. However, these experiences may be useful also in other contexts where children are being treated for different diseases.