Archives de pédiatrie : organe officiel de la Sociéte française de pédiatrie
-
The aim of this study was to assess parental opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of a pediatric oncology day hospital (DH) so that the structure can be better adapted to the children's needs and parents' expectations, and provide a potentially valid alternative to conventional hospitalization (CH). ⋯ Overall, it was concluded that the parents appeared to appreciate the aims of the DH (i.e., limiting the treatment constraints imposed on the patient and on the parents themselves, thereby maintaining the quality of family life, assuring adequate treatment, reducing cost of treatment). However, the authors consider that the DH has to be organized in such a way that it takes into account the following: the social aspects, i.e., living conditions, parents' social, economic and professional status; parents' and children's psychological traits, expectations; and access to a local care system. The DH should also have sufficient means and staff at its disposal. Without taking these factors into consideration, the DH and other alternatives to the CH will not be able to adequately care for the patients, or meet the parents' expectations, and may even have a negative effect on the family.