TY  - JOUR
AU  - Boensvang, Natasha Nybro
AU  - Weibel, Mette
AU  - Wakefield, Claire E
AU  - Bidstrup, Pernille Envold
AU  - Olsen, Marianne
AU  - Nissen, Karin Bækgaard
AU  - Spager, Vibeke
AU  - Fridh, Martin Kaj
AU  - Larsen, Hanne Bækgaard
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/9/4
TI  - Online Ambassador Visits for Hospitalized Children With Cancer: Qualitative Evaluation of Implementation
JO  - JMIR Pediatr Parent
SP  - e53309
VL  - 7
KW  - Children
KW  - cancer
KW  - school-aged
KW  - peers
KW  - interaction
KW  - online
KW  - in-hospital
KW  - social
KW  - relationship
KW  - quality of life
KW  - intervention
KW  - qualiative
AB  - Background: Children with cancer or cancer-like disease risk treatment-related isolation, which can negatively impact their peer relationships and social competencies and exacerbate their loneliness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased online socialization became the new normal imposed by national isolation guidelines. To adhere to the treatment-related isolation guidelines, children with cancer were offered online classmate “ambassador” visits during hospitalization. Objective: This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to online classmate “ambassador” visits during children with cancer’s hospitalization through a qualitative descriptive process evaluation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Methods: From January to April 2022, we conducted 39 individual semistructured interviews with hospitalized children (n=16), their classmates (n=16), teachers from their schools (n=3), and study nurses (n=4) from involved hospitals. Most interviews (n=37, 95%) were conducted online using Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, while 2 (5%) interviews were conducted in person at the participants’ residences. This approach allowed us to gain a broad understanding of the facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits. Results: We identified four themes: (1) working together, (2) ensuring participation, (3) staying connected, and (4) together online. The themes are described in terms of facilitators and barriers to online ambassador visits with 3 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: innovation, individuals, and the implementation process. Conclusions: Addressing the social needs of hospitalized children through online visits with their classmates may be relevant when one-on-one meetings are problematic. The online visits are highly dependent on collaboration between study nurses and teachers and assessing the needs of the hospitalized children. While a high degree of adult engagement and a stable internet connection are pivotal, these online visits can promote much-needed social interaction between children across physical settings. 
SN  - 2561-6722
UR  - https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e53309
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/53309
DO  - 10.2196/53309
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/53309
ER  -