Problematising Home-based Care for Children with Cancer

Background and Literature Review This study explores issues around home-based care for children with cancer. Current policy tends to promote home-based care for children with cancer; this project seeks to interrogate that approach further and to explore the evidence base for this policy direction. The literature review is structured around key themes and demonstrates the gap in the evidence from health care professionals‘ perspectives and UK based research Methodology I adopt a qualitative approach to carry out in-depth and semi-structured interviews with a sample of 10 nursing staff that deliver care to children in the community, in hospital or between the two. Findings Thematic analysis is used to sort the data into three key themes relating to treating children with cancer at home: Maintaining normality during treatment Support the child and their family require at home Safety considerations for treating a child with cancer at home The findings are then discussed in relation to the literature on the subjects to draw conclusions about what the findings mean for nursing practice. Recommendations and Conclusion My findings suggest that the policy direction to promote home-care is appropriate as the best option for children with cancer but there need to be protocols in place to aid the individual decision about where to treat the individual child. The findings demonstrated the increase in community provisions indicating support of home-care but standards need to be set across the country to ensure everywhere has adequate staffing levels in place. Support for families helps maintain normality at home, aids safe home-care and is the key to increasing the availability of more treatments available at home in the future