Facilitation of school re-entry and peer acceptance of children with cancer: a review and meta-analysis of intervention studies
A.S. Helms MD
PhD student
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorK. Schmiegelow MD, PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Brok MD, PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorC. Johansen MD, PhD, DSc
Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen
Unit of Survivorship, The Danish Cancer Society, Research Centre, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorT. Thorsteinsson MSc in Sports Science and Psychology
PhD student
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorV. Simovska MA in Psychology, PhD in Education
Professor, Research Programme Director
Department of Education, Aarhus University, Campus Copenhagen, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
H.B. Larsen RN, MSc in sociology, PhD, Post.doc.
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Correspondence address: Hanne Bækgaard Larsen, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, JMC-5704, The Juliane Marie Center, The University Hospital, (Rigshospitalet), Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (e-mail: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorA.S. Helms MD
PhD student
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorK. Schmiegelow MD, PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Brok MD, PhD
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorC. Johansen MD, PhD, DSc
Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen
Unit of Survivorship, The Danish Cancer Society, Research Centre, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorT. Thorsteinsson MSc in Sports Science and Psychology
PhD student
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorV. Simovska MA in Psychology, PhD in Education
Professor, Research Programme Director
Department of Education, Aarhus University, Campus Copenhagen, Copenhagen
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
H.B. Larsen RN, MSc in sociology, PhD, Post.doc.
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
Correspondence address: Hanne Bækgaard Larsen, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, JMC-5704, The Juliane Marie Center, The University Hospital, (Rigshospitalet), Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark (e-mail: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Increased survival rates from childhood cancer call for efforts to reintegrate children with cancer back into their academic and social environments. The aims of this study were to: (1) review and analyse the existing literature on school re-entry interventions for children with cancer; and (2) discuss the importance of peer involvement in the treatment. Relevant databases were searched using equivalent search algorithms and six studies were selected that target children with cancer and/or their classmates. Two authors independently reviewed the literature for data extraction. The articles were reviewed using the PRISMA model for reporting reviews. Statistical calculations for the meta-analyses were done using Review Manager 5.2. The meta-analyses showed significant effects of school re-entry programmes in terms of enhancing academic achievement in children with cancer (P = 0.008) and lowering their levels of depression (P = 0.05). Increased knowledge among classmates was associated with less fear and a more positive attitude towards the child with cancer. Due to limited numbers of patients, lack of control groups, and the diversity of intervention strategies used in previous studies, there is a need for intervention programmes exploring the optimal path for the reintegration of children with cancer into the education system and into their peer groups.
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