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Psychosocial Issues

Home care for children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 31, pages 607–610 (2003)Cite this article

Summary:

The quality of life of patients who undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is affected by long periods of hospitalisation for the treatment of several complications. On this basis, 28 children who underwent 29 HSCTs were included in the Home Care (HC) programme of the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Department of the Gaslini Children's Hospital to be discharged earlier. A total of 17 children were assisted for haematologic follow-up and support therapy administration. The remaining children were followed up for graft- versus-host disease and/or cytomegalovirus infection. Overall activity consisted of 1232 i.v. therapies, 501 blood tests, 58 red blood cell or platelet transfusions, 107 procedures on Central Venous Catheter. Median duration of the assistance per child was 25 days (range 1235) for a total of 1598 days. A total of 822 accesses at home replaced 459 and 363 out-patient and in-patient days of hospitalisation. The average cost per patient receiving HC (€4252) was significantly lower (P<0.01) when compared to the average cost per patient admitted to the hospital to undergo the same procedures (€14693). This report shows that HC is feasible for children following HSCT, that it reduces the discomfort of the patients and their families, and that it reduces costs.

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Acknowledgements

The home care programme at the G Gaslini Children's Hospital was supported in part by the Associazione Bambino Emopatico ed Oncologico (ABEO), by the Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie (AIL), by Regione Liguria, by Fondazione Gaslini, by Fondatione CARIGE, by Compagnia di S. Paolo, and by Ricerca Finalizzita Ministeriate 2001. We thank M Brunella Sciaccaluga for her technical assistance.

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  1. Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, G Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genova, Italy

    M Miano, L Manfredini, A Garaventa, S Fieramosca, R Tanasini, G Morreale, C Manzitti & G Dini

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  1. M Miano
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  2. L Manfredini
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  3. A Garaventa
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  4. S Fieramosca
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  5. R Tanasini
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  6. G Morreale
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  7. C Manzitti
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  8. G Dini
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Miano, M., Manfredini, L., Garaventa, A. et al. Home care for children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 31, 607–610 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703892

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