Multi-Professional Follow-Up Programmes are Needed to Address Psychosocial, Neurocognitive and Educational Issues in Children with Brain Tumours

I van’t Hooft, A Lindahl Norberg, A Björklund, M Lönnerblad and B Strömberg

Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Psychology in Health Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Neuropaediatric Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University Children’s Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

^*Correspondance to: I van�t Hooft 

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Abstract:

Aim: The aim of this study was to coordinate the structured psychosocial, neurocognitive and educational follow up of children treated for brain tumours with the medical protocol and apply the model in two Swedish healthcare regions.Methods: We invited all children living in the two regions, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour from 1 October 2010 through to 30 June 2012, to participate along with their parents. The follow-up programme evaluated the emotional status of the parents and patients and assessed the children’s general cognitive level, working memory, speed of performance, executive functions and academic achievement from diagnosis through to adult care.Results: During the study period, 61 children up to the age of 17.1 years were diagnosed with a brain tumour, but 18 of these were excluded for various reasons. The majority of the mothers (70%) displayed significantly poor emotional status, as did 34% of the fathers and 21% of the children. The majority of the children (57%) also showed poor neurocognitive performance and needed special adaptations at school (66%).Conclusion: Our findings indicate the need for coordinated, multi-professional follow-up programmes, well anchored in the healthcare organisation, for children diagnosed with brain tumours.

Keywords:

Multi-professional care; Neurocognitive performance, Paediatric brain tumours, Poor emotional status, Special needs

Cite the Article:

van’t Hooft I, Lindahl Norberg A, Björklund A, Lönnerblad M, Strömberg B. Multi-Professional Follow-Up Programmes are Needed to Address Psychosocial, Neurocognitive and Educational Issues in Children with Brain Tumours. Clin Oncol. 2017; 2: 1248.