Integrated care pathways: an audit tool in paediatric oncology.

The families of children undergoing treatment for cancer encounter many professionals with varying levels of training, experience and competency. This can lead to variance in the care and advice they receive. The aim of the audit described in this article was to improve care for children with fever and neutropenia by introducing an integrated care pathway. Guidelines for neutropenia were examined and a retrospective analysis of notes undertaken to study what was happening before a pathway was introduced. From this, standards were set and a pathway developed which was introduced to all members of the oncology unit and implemented as part of the children's care. This article will also focus on the audit and evaluation of the pathway. Following this, the pathway has been changed to reflect care and can now be used to introduce new evidence or research in this field.