title: Facilitation of school re-entry and peer acceptance of children with cancer: a review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.
abstract: Increased survival rates from childhood cancer call for efforts to reintegrate children with cancer back into their academic and social environments. The aims of this study were to: (1) review and analyse the existing literature on school re-entry interventions for children with cancer; and (2) discuss the importance of peer involvement in the treatment. Relevant databases were searched using equivalent search algorithms and six studies were selected that target children with cancer and/or their classmates. Two authors independently reviewed the literature for data extraction. The articles were reviewed using the PRISMA model for reporting reviews. Statistical calculations for the meta-analyses were done using Review Manager 5.2. The meta-analyses showed significant effects of school re-entry programmes in terms of enhancing academic achievement in children with cancer (P = 0.008) and lowering their levels of depression (P = 0.05). Increased knowledge among classmates was associated with less fear and a more positive attitude towards the child with cancer. Due to limited numbers of patients, lack of control groups, and the diversity of intervention strategies used in previous studies, there is a need for intervention programmes exploring the optimal path for the reintegration of children with cancer into the education system and into their peer groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.|The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Helms
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.|The University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Science, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmiegelow
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brok
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Finsen Center, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen.|Unit of Survivorship, The Danish Cancer Society, Research Centre, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thorsteinsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Education, Aarhus University, Campus Copenhagen, Copenhagen.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Simovska
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010379:Peer Group; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012572:School Health Services; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: childhood cancer; intervention; peers; school re-entry