Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform
Published on: April 12, 2021
Systematic Review of Studies Investigating Hospital Readmissions in Pediatric Oncology
Hadeel Hassan1,2, Yujie Chen1,3, Amy Duoli Lu2
1Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Hospital readmissions in pediatric cancer patients are common, often due to fever and infection. Strategies like early follow-up and better discharge education can help prevent these readmissions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Healthcare Management
- Systematic Review
Background:
- Hospital readmissions are a significant concern in pediatric oncology.
- Understanding indications, risk factors, and prevention strategies is crucial for improving patient care.
Approach:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- Comprehensive search of multiple databases (Embase, Medline, Scopus, etc.).
- Inclusion of studies on pediatric cancer patients, including surgical oncology and hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Key Points:
- Fever and infection are the most frequent reasons for readmission.
- Younger age, specific cancers (e.g., acute lymphoblastic leukemia), and socioeconomic factors are significant risk factors.
- Proposed prevention strategies include early follow-up, anticipatory guidance, and specialized care.
Conclusions:
- Hospital readmissions in pediatric oncology are complex and require standardized definitions.
- Further high-quality prospective studies are needed.
- Integrating predictive analytics and addressing socioeconomic disparities are essential for improving outcomes.
Purpose:
This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence on hospital readmissions among pediatric oncology patients, focusing on the indications, risk factors, and proposed strategies to prevent readmissions.
Method:
The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Databases including Embase, Medline, Scopus, Mendeley, and Google Scholar were searched. Studies examining hospital readmission as a main outcome in pediatric cancer patients, including those undergoing surgical oncology procedures or receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation, were included. Quality assessment was undertaken using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and PROBAST tool.
Results:
A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies spanned from 2008 to 2023, with an increase in publications from 2020 onward (61%). Fever and infection were the most common readmission indications. Statistically significant risk factors reported included younger age, specific cancer types (e.g., acute lymphoblastic leukemia), and socioeconomic factors. Prevention strategies proposed included early follow-up, tailored anticipatory guidance, discharge education, and specialized care at pediatric oncology centers.
Conclusions:
This systematic review highlights the multifaceted nature of hospital readmissions in pediatric oncology patients and the need for standardized definitions, additional studies, and comprehensive interventions. Future research should focus on high-quality prospective studies, integration of predictive analytics, and addressing socioeconomic disparities to improve patient outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
00:59Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in...
01:31Discharge Summary Forms
Here's a detailed look at the key components and guidelines for preparing a discharge summary:
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...