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Brain tumours in children: importance of early identification
Charles William Fry1, Rachel Perrow, Siba Prosad Paul
15th year medical student, University of Bristol.
Insights
The HeadSmart campaign improved early brain tumour diagnosis in UK children, reducing the diagnostic interval to 7 weeks. Further reduction to 5 weeks is targeted to match international standards.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Public Health Initiatives
Background:
- Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in UK children, accounting for 25% of childhood cancers.
- Previous studies indicated significant delays in diagnosing pediatric brain tumors in the UK.
- Headache is a key symptom but often underreported in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the HeadSmart campaign on the diagnostic interval for childhood brain tumors.
- To increase awareness of brain tumor symptoms among healthcare professionals.
- To support nurses in early identification and family support following diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- The HeadSmart campaign aimed to improve symptom recognition and referral pathways.
- Utilized a symptom card as a resource for healthcare professionals.
- Focused on raising awareness among diverse healthcare settings.
Main Results:
- The campaign successfully reduced the total diagnostic interval to 7 weeks.
- Highlighted the crucial role of nurses in early detection and patient support.
- The HeadSmart symptom card is recognized as a valuable tool.
Conclusions:
- The HeadSmart campaign has demonstrated effectiveness in shortening pediatric brain tumor diagnosis times.
- Continued efforts are needed to further reduce the diagnostic interval to 5 weeks.
- Achieving international benchmarks in diagnosis time is a key objective.
Abstract:
A Brain tumours account for a quarter of all childhood cancers in the UK but are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Studies have previously shown that there is a delay in diagnosing brain tumours in children in the UK. The HeadSmart campaign was launched to increase awareness among health professionals working in different settings regarding brain tumour symptoms in children. Although headache is considered to be one of the most important symptoms, it is not often reported in paediatric practice, especially if the child is young. The HeadSmart symptom card is a useful resource and should be used when dealing with a child with symptoms suggestive of brain tumours. Nurses working in different settings play a vital role in early identification of brain tumours and also in supporting the child and his/her family through the child's journey following diagnosis of a brain tumour. The HeadSmart campaign has led to a reduction in the total diagnostic interval, to 7 weeks, and the ultimate aim is to reduce it further to 5 weeks which will be on a par with the time taken to diagnose brain tumours in children in other developed countries.
