Exploring different stakeholders' perspectives on ward rounds in paediatric oncology: a qualitative study

Ward rounds are a core routine for interprofessional communication and clinical care planning: Health care professionals and patients meet regularly and it encourages patients to actively participate. In paediatric oncology, the long treatment process, the serious diagnosis, and involvement of both patients and their parents in shared-decision-making require specific ward round skills. Despite its high value for patient-centred care, a universal definition of ward round is lacking. Little is known about attitudes and expectations of different participants towards a 'good' ward round. This study aims to capture experiences and expectations of different stakeholders to better understand ward round needs in paediatric oncology and serve as a basis to improve future ward rounds.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, parents, nurses and medical doctors of a paediatric oncology ward until theoretical saturation (13 interviews). A standardised qualitative analysis using the phenomenological framework defined by Colaizzi was used to identify important aspects in the interviews.

Three major themes were identified in the interviews: [1] Structure and Organisation; [2] Communication; [3] Education. Further analysis revealed 23 categories and elucidated several opportunities and unmet needs recognized by stakeholders: Ward round functions in comforting families in stressful situations, and relationship building. Interviewees expressed their concerns about missing structures. Families pleaded for smaller ward round teams and layperson language. Health care professionals underscored the lack of ward round training. Paediatric patients stated that ward round scared them without proper explanation. All interviewees emphasized the need for professionalization of the ward round in the setting of paediatric oncology.

This study gives important insights into ward round functions and organisational requirements. It addresses special challenges for ward round participants in paediatric oncology, such as consideration of the emotional aspect of cancer treatment or the limits of shared decision making. Furthermore, this study underscores the great significance of ward rounds in paediatric oncology, with an emphasis on communication and relationship-building. Although performed universally, ward rounds are poorly explored or evaluated. This structured analysis synthesizes important expectations of different WR stakeholders, revealing opportunities of improvement and stressing the need for guidelines, training, and preparation.