Efficient healthcare for children with cancer using telemedicine in intensive chemotherapy phases

Background Children with cancer are at risk for life-threatening infections due to chemotherapy-induced immunodeficiency during therapy. Initial symptoms can be subtle and require professional knowledge in pediatric oncology resulting in very frequent clinical visits. This affects family structures and causes high costs. Aim: Our aim is to show an equivalence of telemedical support compared to on-site visits in intensive chemotherapy phases. Methods: A monocentric randomized crossover study will start in October 2020 in our Pediatric Oncology Department in Kiel. Defined clinical visits will be replaced by telemedicine appointments. Technical devices will be used in order to record heart rate, oxygen saturation and body temperature at home. The safety of telemedicine will be assessed by measuring number and severity of complications and the “time-to-antibiotic” in neutropenic fever. Patient satisfaction and economic aspects will also be evaluated. Conclusion: Safety and successful implementation of telemedicine in these most vulnerable patients will allow an expansion of telemedicine to other high-risk populations and to medical interventions (e. g. therapy at home) in oncology.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Mai 2020