QOS-39PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF AN ITALIAN SURVEY ON REHABILITATION CARE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMORS

Abstract

Preliminary data of a survey on the rehabilitation care of children and adolescents with CNS tumors, conducted on Italian Rehabilitation Network in Pediatric Oncology, are presented. Information was collected with a questionnaire. 45 Italian centers were contacted; 39 are part of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematologyand Oncology (AIEOP).22 questionnaireswerefilled in (49% participation rate) and 15 centers deal with the population of interest. The number of referred cases/year was less than 5 patients in 11 centers, between 10 and 20 in 1 center, between 20 and 30 in 2 centers and between 30 and 40 in 1 center. Rehabilitation during hospitalization at the oncology department is carried out in all centers. 11/15 centers have an intensive care unit (6 exclusively pediatric), and rehabilitation is carried out in 9/11 centers. 8/15 centers have a neurosurgery department (3 exclusively pediatric), and rehabilitation is carried out only in 5 of the 8 centers. 10/15 centers have a psycho-oncology service. 7/15 centers plan interdisciplinary periodic meetings. In most centers (11/15) standardized scales for neuromotor signs validated for other diseases are used. Nine centers use standardized scales for the assessment of pain. Four centers have a pediatric hospice. Only 1 center perform rehabilitation during all the stages of the disease. Preliminary data evidenced heterogeneity in the rehabilitation care of these patients. Further collaborations should be encouraged in order to warrant coverage of all stages of the disease, to improve interdisciplinary care and to identify standardized rating scales.