The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute is funding a three-year, $1.8 million study on whether it's better for children with leukemia receiving chemotherapy to remain in the hospital or recover at home. It will be lead by a pediatric oncologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Children receiving chemotherapy are more vulnerable to life-threatening bloodstream infections because the treatment kills both cancer cells and white blood cells.
Due to the increased infection risk, some physicians opt to keep their pediatric patients in the hospital for monitoring while others prefer to send the child home with their family to cut down on the burden a prolonged hospital stay can place on patients and their families.
"The study will not only give us clear data on the safety of each discharge strategy, but will also ask patients and families about their preferences," said principal investigator and CHOP pediatric oncologist, Richard Aplenc, MD. "Both types of information will help us as oncologists to better work with families to find the best strategy for their children."
As part of the PCORI-funded study, CHOP will collaborate with 10 other pediatric hospitals in the country to gather data from patient, families and clinicians.
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