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Occupational Therapy: An Essential Component of Support for Young Children With Cancer
Jessica Sparrow1, Hannah Dagen1, Allison Harris1
1St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Most young children with cancer receive occupational therapy (OT) evaluations during hospitalization. Referrals for home-based OT services varied by age and cancer type, highlighting the need for continued support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Early Childhood Development
Background:
- Multidisciplinary clinics are essential for supporting infants and toddlers undergoing cancer treatment.
- Access to occupational therapy (OT) for this vulnerable pediatric oncology population is not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and characteristics of occupational therapy (OT) referrals for infants and toddlers with cancer.
- To describe the patterns of OT service utilization in young children with cancer during hospitalization and post-discharge.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for pediatric patients aged 0-3 years diagnosed with cancer.
- Data extraction included demographic information, cancer diagnosis, and OT referral details from September 2015 to September 2018.
- Analysis of referral rates for hospital-based and home/community-based OT services.
Main Results:
- Out of 134 eligible patients, 112 (83.6%) received an OT evaluation.
- 88.4% of patients were referred for hospital-based OT services.
- 42.0% were recommended for home- or community-based OT services, with significant differences noted based on patient age and cancer type.
Conclusions:
- Occupational therapy (OT) is frequently accessed by young children with cancer during hospitalization.
- Referral patterns for post-discharge OT services indicate a need for tailored interventions based on individual patient factors.
- Consistent OT support is vital for addressing the developmental needs of pediatric oncology patients throughout their treatment journey and beyond.
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