What are blood counts? A computer-assisted program for pediatric patients.

The diagnosis of cancer in a child leaves the parents and child faced with a life-threatening illness in addition to the need to learn about how the illness will impact their lives. Education about the disease process, treatment regimen, and possible side effects of therapy must occur. The educational process, often consisting of didactic teaching sessions, often does not lend itself well to the individual learning needs of the child. A more individualized and developmentally appropriate method of educating children was developed, consisting of the development of a computer-assisted instructional (CAI) program on blood counts.