title: Experience and nursing needs of school-age children undergoing lumbar puncture during the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a descriptive and qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe experiences and nursing needs of school-age Chinese children undergoing lumbar puncture for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Lumbar puncture is an invasive procedure, causing psychological changes and physical discomfort in patients. In a previous study, it was proved that distraction intervention, such as music therapy, relieves pain and anxiety. There is limited evidence regarding the experience and needs of school-age children during lumbar puncture after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. To minimise their anxiety and pain during the procedure, it is important to collect information directly from these children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive qualitative research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one school-age children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia participated in semi-structured interviews at a Children's Hospital in China. Data were collected by an experienced and trained interviewer. Qualitative content analysis was chosen to describe experiences of children undergoing lumbar puncture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While undergoing lumbar puncture for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, school-age Chinese children experienced complex psychological feelings (fear, tension, helplessness, sadness and anxiety). They also experienced physical discomfort. They had multipolar needs, such as information, communication, respect, self-actualisation, environment and equipment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified important areas that must be closely monitored by healthcare staff, performing lumbar puncture on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia children. Thus, a successful and smooth procedure can be performed on these patients, and their quality of life can be improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiences described in this study contribute to a better understanding of the needs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia children undergoing lumbar puncture. They also provide valuable information to professional medical care staff that develops future nursing assessments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Anwei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Mei E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiya
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: leukaemia; lumbar puncture; nursing needs; qualitative research; school age