TY - JOUR
T1 - Online Ambassador Visits for Hospitalized Children With Cancer
T2 - Qualitative Evaluation of Implementation
AU - Boensvang, Natasha Nybro
AU - Weibel, Mette
AU - Wakefield, Claire E
AU - Bidstrup, Pernille Envold
AU - Olsen, Marianne
AU - Nissen, Karin Bækgaard
AU - Spager, Vibeke
AU - Fridh, Martin Kaj
AU - Larsen, Hanne Bækgaard
N1 - ©Natasha Nybro Boensvang, Mette Weibel, Claire E Wakefield, Pernille Envold Bidstrup, Marianne Olsen, Karin Bækgaard Nissen, Vibeke Spager, Martin Kaj Fridh, Hanne Bækgaard Larsen. Originally published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting (https://pediatrics.jmir.org), 04.09.2024.
PY - 2024/9/4
Y1 - 2024/9/4
N2 - BACKGROUND: Children with cancer or cancer-like disease risk treatment-related isolation, which can negatively impact their peer relationships and social competencies and exacerbate their loneliness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased online socialization became the new normal imposed by national isolation guidelines. To adhere to the treatment-related isolation guidelines, children with cancer were offered online classmate "ambassador" visits during hospitalization.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to online classmate "ambassador" visits during children with cancer's hospitalization through a qualitative descriptive process evaluation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.METHODS: From January to April 2022, we conducted 39 individual semistructured interviews with hospitalized children (n=16), their classmates (n=16), teachers from their schools (n=3), and study nurses (n=4) from involved hospitals. Most interviews (n=37, 95%) were conducted online using Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, while 2 (5%) interviews were conducted in person at the participants' residences. This approach allowed us to gain a broad understanding of the facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits.RESULTS: We identified four themes: (1) working together, (2) ensuring participation, (3) staying connected, and (4) together online. The themes are described in terms of facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits with 3 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: innovation, individuals, and the implementation process.CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the social needs of hospitalized children through online visits with their classmates may be relevant when one-on-one meetings are problematic. The online visits are highly dependent on collaboration between study nurses and teachers and assessing the needs of the hospitalized children. While a high degree of adult engagement and a stable internet connection are pivotal, these online visits can promote much-needed social interaction between children across physical settings.
AB - BACKGROUND: Children with cancer or cancer-like disease risk treatment-related isolation, which can negatively impact their peer relationships and social competencies and exacerbate their loneliness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased online socialization became the new normal imposed by national isolation guidelines. To adhere to the treatment-related isolation guidelines, children with cancer were offered online classmate "ambassador" visits during hospitalization.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to online classmate "ambassador" visits during children with cancer's hospitalization through a qualitative descriptive process evaluation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.METHODS: From January to April 2022, we conducted 39 individual semistructured interviews with hospitalized children (n=16), their classmates (n=16), teachers from their schools (n=3), and study nurses (n=4) from involved hospitals. Most interviews (n=37, 95%) were conducted online using Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, while 2 (5%) interviews were conducted in person at the participants' residences. This approach allowed us to gain a broad understanding of the facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits.RESULTS: We identified four themes: (1) working together, (2) ensuring participation, (3) staying connected, and (4) together online. The themes are described in terms of facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits with 3 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: innovation, individuals, and the implementation process.CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the social needs of hospitalized children through online visits with their classmates may be relevant when one-on-one meetings are problematic. The online visits are highly dependent on collaboration between study nurses and teachers and assessing the needs of the hospitalized children. While a high degree of adult engagement and a stable internet connection are pivotal, these online visits can promote much-needed social interaction between children across physical settings.
U2 - 10.2196/53309
DO - 10.2196/53309
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39231427
SN - 2561-6722
VL - 7
SP - e53309
JO - JMIR pediatrics and parenting
JF - JMIR pediatrics and parenting
ER -