Integrated care networks in multidisciplinary rehabilitation therapy services for childhood oncology close to home: lessons learned from an international environmental scan

BackgroundIntegrated care networks (ICNs) close to home have the potential to improve continuity and quality of care for children with cancer and their families during and after treatment. Our goal is to develop such a network for multidisciplinary rehabilitation therapy services (RTS) in The Netherlands, but we lacked a good understanding of an ICN and the factors to make it successful.PurposeThe aim of the study was to learn from initiatives in ICN’s internationally, how are ICN’s developed, how does it promote collaboration and what are facilitators and barriers in its development and use?MethodsWe performed an environmental scan. First, we performed a systematic literature search (PubMed) focussing on ICNs for childhood oncology. Secondly, we sent a survey regarding development and use of ICNs to international childhood cancer centers. Participating centers were asked to share information about their initiatives in providing care close to home. Data were summarized descriptively and analyzed using content analysis.ResultsThe literature search did not reveal any relevant publications. The results from the survey, including15 countries, provided valuable insights in the understanding of a good ICN, its facilitators and barriers, and the potential added value of developing ICNs close to home to provide continuity and quality of care.ConclusionsOur study highlights the perceived importance of ICNs for multidisciplinary RTS in pediatric oncology and provides valuable information for the formation of such a network. Information about the needs from the perspectives of children and parents is currently missing and essential to develop successful ICNs.