Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the only form of leukemia which is more common in children than in adults. It is the most common form of childhood tumor in that it represents about a third of all tumor cases in children: 80% of childhood leukemia cases are ALL. It has a peak incident rate of 1-4 years old, and is more frequent in males than females.
The quality of life of children with lymphoblastic leukemia is now considered an important outcome in the treatment of this disease. Therefore the aim of this thesis is to explain, step by step, each practical or supporting intervention carried out daily in Pediatric Oncology. It will focus on the assistance in therapeutic education of young patients and their family: in particular it will deal with nutrition, pain management, prevention of infections and management of the central venous catheter (CVC).
These topics will be discussed in depth thanks to the elaboration of a booklet on the management of the CVC and the presentation of a clinical case.
A questionnaire of 4 questions was given to 20 parents regarding the booklet and the feedback was positive: for the first one 80% answered that they found it useful, for the second one 70% found it immediately understandable, for the third one 60% believe that anxiety during CVC procedures has been diminished and for the last one 75% answered that their child found the booklet comprehensible.
Because of its effectiveness, this booklet will be officially approved during the Pediatric Oncohematology Departament’s quality control meeting in the Policlinico of Modena, which will be held in early 2014, thanks to which it will then be inserted on Intranet (Bingo) and regularly used in the departament and given to parents.
At the end a child’s clinical case is presented , told through the emotions and sensations as felt by the parents.
