Shannon Hyslop1, Hailey Davis1, Nathan Duong1, Robyn Loves1, Tal Schechter2, Deborah Tomlinson1, George A Tomlinson3, L Lee Dupuis4, Lillian Sung5. 1. Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada. 2. Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada. 4. Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Pharmacy, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada. 5. Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada; Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada. Electronic address: lillian.sung@sickkids.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Objectives were to describe the proportion of bothersome symptoms self-reported using the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) documented in the medical records and associated with an intervention. METHODS: Eligible respondents were inpatients aged 8-18 years receiving cancer treatments and expected to be in hospital or clinic three days later. Children self-reported symptom bother using SSPedi. We evaluated symptom documentation and interventions in the medical records proximal to SSPedi administration. RESULTS: There were 168 children included. Symptoms rated as at least 'a lot' bother were documented in the medical record less than 60% of the time for 12 of 15 symptoms. Of these symptoms, the most infrequently documented symptoms were problems with thinking or remembering things (0%), changes in how your body or face look (4.8%), changes in taste (7.7%) and tingly or numb hands or feet (11.1%). Intervention provision for symptoms rated as 'a lot' bother occurred less than 60% of the time for 10 of 15 symptoms. Of these symptoms, the most infrequently treated were thinking or remembering things (0%), changes in how your body or face look (0%), tingly or numb hands or feet (0%), changes in taste (0%), diarrhoea (0%) and feeling tired (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Documentation of symptoms and intervention provision were generally infrequent. Symptoms that were almost never documented or treated included problems with cognition, body image, taste changes and peripheral neuropathy. Future efforts should incorporate symptom screening into routine care and facilitate symptom management by improving access to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
BACKGROUND: Objectives were to describe the proportion of bothersome symptoms self-reported using the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi) documented in the medical records and associated with an intervention. METHODS: Eligible respondents were inpatients aged 8-18 years receiving cancer treatments and expected to be in hospital or clinic three days later. Children self-reported symptom bother using SSPedi. We evaluated symptom documentation and interventions in the medical records proximal to SSPedi administration. RESULTS: There were 168 children included. Symptoms rated as at least 'a lot' bother were documented in the medical record less than 60% of the time for 12 of 15 symptoms. Of these symptoms, the most infrequently documented symptoms were problems with thinking or remembering things (0%), changes in how your body or face look (4.8%), changes in taste (7.7%) and tingly or numb hands or feet (11.1%). Intervention provision for symptoms rated as 'a lot' bother occurred less than 60% of the time for 10 of 15 symptoms. Of these symptoms, the most infrequently treated were thinking or remembering things (0%), changes in how your body or face look (0%), tingly or numb hands or feet (0%), changes in taste (0%), diarrhoea (0%) and feeling tired (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Documentation of symptoms and intervention provision were generally infrequent. Symptoms that were almost never documented or treated included problems with cognition, body image, taste changes and peripheral neuropathy. Future efforts should incorporate symptom screening into routine care and facilitate symptom management by improving access to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
Authors: Austin L Brown; Pagna Sok; Olga Taylor; John P Woodhouse; M Brooke Bernhardt; Kimberly P Raghubar; Lisa S Kahalley; Philip J Lupo; Marilyn J Hockenberry; Michael E Scheurer Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2020-09-01 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Cody Z Watling; Clodagh McCarthy; Alexandra Theodorakidis; Sadie Cook; Emily Vettese; Tal Schechter; Hanan Abubeker; L Lee Dupuis; Lillian Sung Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2020-09-25 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Irtiza N Sheikh; Jeffrey Miller; Basirat Shoberu; Clark R Andersen; Jian Wang; Loretta A Williams; Kris M Mahadeo; Rhonda Robert Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2021-12-29