SICKO. Development of a Multi-Disciplinary Training-Concept for Paediatric Oncology

Background Treating children with cancer requires multiple different skills. For the healthcare personnel (HCP) in Germany the practice of ongoing training to improve professional skills is almost non-existent. Therefore, we developed a programme called 'SICKO' to support HCPs skills and attitudes by means of a multidisciplinary workshop. Methods Following a qualitative analysis, we then designed a modular (3 day) workshop. During day one (8 h) participants learn practical skills, the fundamentals of chemotherapy, and effective communication skills. Workshop day 2 (8 h) includes education regarding the complications of cancer therapy (e. g. tumour-lysis syndrome, delayed methotrexate excretion), and their management. Topics during day 3 (8 h) include 'breaking bad news', conflict management in the team, infusion-related complications and 'crew resource management' (CRM). Results 43 nurses and 33 physicians participated between 2013 and 2015. All participants highly recommend the workshop. Participants felt that knowledge increased significantly after workshops and were more confident regarding challenging communications. Discussion/Conclusions Although long-term effects have not yet been evaluated, 'SICKO' offers the opportunity for HCP to train and experience simulated day-to-day challenges in the field of paediatric oncology.