Improving everyday life experiences for young children with cancer

Power, EJ

Abstract

Children with cancer regularly have long term central line catheters inserted in the chest to deliver medication. Often termed ?Hickman Lines?, they result in tubing protruding from the chest, which can result in medical issues including infections, but also discomfort for the child, particularly when sleeping. A team of researchers, led by Dr Jess Power, including Professor David Leaper and Joanne Marie Harris, has been investigating the design and development of a product to contain these external lines, providing greater comfort and safety for the child whilst also meeting the needs of the medical community

Citation

Power, E. Improving everyday life experiences for young children with cancer

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: May 19, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 19, 2022
• Journal: Discover
• Publisher URL: http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/25669/
• Related Public URLs: http://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/4013/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This submission contains an international journal paper (2017) with supporting evidence in the form of an international peer reviewed conference paper, nation practitioner?s conference (Health Sector) and a university research case study. The main focus of the research was to design and develop (with a local charity) a safety harness with the potential to reduce infection at the site of a catheter tail in the chest of long-term child cancer sufferers. The research uses an inductive approach, triangulating various research strategies including questionnaires, focus groups and interviews from parents, carers and medical personnel. QFD was used to bring together the key findings from the primary data analysis to establish a design criteria and the product development. The outcome of the research was a functional product ergonomically designed for maximum comfort, dignity and safety, with the added unique selling point of antibacterial properties. The product has since been commercialised by the charity under the brand of Tookie and https://www.tookie.co.