From Urgent Questions to Lasting Pathways: Fertility Care at SickKids
For many children and adolescents with cancer, treatment is lifesaving. But these treatments can also impact something deeply personal — their future fertility and the potential for biological children. For years, nurses have heard similar questions from patients and families:
Will I be able to have children one day? Are there options? What are those options? Is it too late?
Without clear pathways, these questions were often left unanswered, and solutions were not always available. The need was clear: fertility preservation had to become timely, equitable, and normalized within pediatric oncology care.
In 2024, SickKids took a significant step forward by building a formal Fertility Preservation Program. The goal was to create an interdisciplinary, sustainable care pathway that facilitated standardized and timely access to fertility preservation for patients across varied diagnoses, ages, and urgency levels. Over 60 clinicians across disciplines — nursing, oncology, hematology, gynecology, endocrinology, pathology, urology, fertility specialists, informatics, social work, education, implementation science, and survivorship — with patient and parent partners, joined focused working groups to design care pathways that made sense in clinical settings. The group created detailed workflows to address referral processes, urgent and non‑urgent pathways, education, and survivorship considerations. Pathways for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC), egg freezing, sperm banking, electroejaculation, and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) were clearly defined and implemented as standard of care.
The Nursing Role in Fertility Preservation
Nursing has been central to this work. In the first days of a new cancer diagnosis, nurses are consistently present at the bedside, making them instrumental in fertility pathways. Education and normalization were key early priorities. By equipping nurses with language, resources, and straightforward flow charts, the aim was to make these conversations informative and less uncomfortable for patients, caregivers, and the medical team. While fertility preservation counselling is often done by physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician’s assistants, nurses play an active role in identifying eligible patients, normalizing fertility discussions, reinforcing education, and supporting families through complex, emotional decisions.
The program also recognizes patients who are unable to undergo fertility preservation, whether due to treatment urgency, age, cultural/personal reasons, or medical contraindications. Nurses remain essential supports for these patients, both during treatment and in survivorship, validating grief, answering evolving questions, and reconnecting families with fertility resources, as needs change over time.
Collaboration at Its Core
A key strength of the program is collaboration with Mount Sinai Fertility, allowing SickKids’ patients timely access to specialized fertility expertise. Importantly, some aspects of fertility preservation are covered through provincial funding or hospital budgets; others are not, highlighting ongoing inequities in access.
At its heart, the SickKids Fertility Preservation Program reflects something nurses have always known: fertility matters. It matters to patients thinking about their future, to families planning for life beyond illness, and to survivors redefining what that future might look like. For nurses, this work is about more than procedures — it’s about listening, normalizing, advocating, and making space for hope, even in the hardest moments.
For more information and resources, visit the SickKids Fertility Preservation Program website.
This story was written for the spring 2026 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter, by SickKids staff Rebecca Côté, RN, Clinical Program Coordinator, Sarah Gabura, RN, MN, NP-Pediatrics, Dr. Kriti Kumar, Staff Oncologist, Haematology/Oncology.
Caring for the Whole Family: Financial Challenges in Pediatric Oncology
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, a family’s life is turned upside down. The emotional impact is profound, and for some families, the financial toll can be equally overwhelming. Families often face reduced household income; either because a caregiver must take a leave from work, or reduce work hours, while simultaneously managing significant out-of-pocket costs related to treatment. These costs can include medications not fully covered by insurance; over-the-counter medications; travel expenses; parking fees; meals and accommodation, especially when treatment requires travelling far from home. Rising expenses for essentials such as gas, groceries, and daily living necessities only add to this strain, making it increasingly difficult for families to manage the financial impact of cancer treatment.
Pediatric oncology nurses are often entrusted with the stories of families facing significant challenges throughout their child’s treatment, including financial difficulties. It is essential to be well informed about the resources available to support these families to know how to guide them to the appropriate services that can help alleviate their financial burdens. By doing so, it ensures comprehensive care, addressing not only the medical needs but also the emotional and financial well-being of the family.
In Ontario, private and provincial financial assistance programs play a vital role in reducing this burden, allowing families to focus on their child’s care rather than financial stress. Many of these programs are income-based, ensuring those with the greatest financial need receive the support required. A patient’s social worker and POGO Interlink Nurse work closely with families to assess their financial needs throughout treatment and identify which programs are available and most appropriate.
While available financial resources can vary between hospitals and geographic regions, the POGO Financial Assistance Program provides support to every family experiencing childhood cancer across Ontario, regardless of income. The program offers financial relief by reimbursing some of the costs incurred as a result of a child’s cancer treatment. Even with these programs, some families still face substantial financial challenges, especially when treatment involves frequent travel or extended hospital stays.
Many of these financial relief programs for families are accessible during a child’s active treatment, but for some families, the need for financial support does not end when treatment is complete. Funding for families who require access to rehabilitative services post-treatment highlights a current gap in financial support available in Ontario.
Continued financial relief after treatment is critical in ensuring families can access essential rehabilitative care or recover from the significant impact of a cancer diagnosis on their financial situation. Having the knowledge about what supports exist, and who to refer to for further guidance, can be an essential part of supporting children living with and beyond cancer, and their families.
In addition to hospital and provincially-supported programs, families may benefit from the following financial resources:
- Childhood Cancer Canada – The Emergency Fund
- Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer
- Kindred Foundation – Family Support
- Shine Through the Rain – The Rainy Day Fund
Families are also encouraged to check with their hospital foundation, as many offer patient and family support programs that may help offset treatment‑related expenses.
Please note that availability may vary by institution and region. Be sure to check whether your organization is affiliated with these or other community partners that provide financial support to families.
This story was written for the spring 2026 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter, by McMaster Children’s Hospital Interlink Nurses, Briar O’Neil, RN, BScN, and Emily White, RN, BScN.
REDiAL- Resuming Normalcy During Acute Leukemia
Leukemia maintenance therapy primarily involves oral chemotherapy at home, with less frequent hospital visits, and lower intensity symptoms that are expected to have less impact on daily activities. ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) experts believe it is medically safe to resume developmentally appropriate activities during maintenance, and that promoting physical activity and social engagement may mitigate the severity of symptoms, late effects, and improve quality of life.
A significant gap and variability in the education provided at the start of maintenance therapy was identified by members of the leukemia team at SickKids. Building on the success of the new diagnosis education program, a structured education intervention called REDiAL (REsuming normalcy During Acute Leukemia treatment) was created by an expert interdisciplinary team, delivered by the leukemia clinic nurses, and evaluated.
The overall goal of the education sessions is to support families’ capacity to resume a sense of normalcy, and identify those who will need additional support to adjust to maintenance therapy.
Over the past year, the education sessions were delivered to over forty families of a child diagnosed with ALL, within one month of starting maintenance therapy. Sessions were delivered both in-person and virtually to meet the needs of the caregivers. The average length of the sessions was 35 minutes. 50% of sessions were attended by one caregiver, and the other 50% was a combination of 2 caregivers, 2 caregivers and their child, or 1 caregiver and 1 child. Most (60%) sessions were delivered virtually based on caregiver preference. Notable topics included transitioning back to school in person, extracurricular activities, sleeping independently, travel, review of medications, and healthy nutrition.
The team reviewed caregiver feedback collected with a survey for ongoing tailoring of the content, length of session, and delivery. 100% of caregivers responded ‘Yes’ to ‘Did you learn something new during this education session?’, and ‘Would you recommend this session to another family?’ Caregivers also provided valuable qualitative feedback, including:
“Learning about the social aspects (school, work), dietary, and positive transitions we are being suggested to make was reassuring and comforting.”
Another caregiver noted the session helped with feeling prepared for meeting with the team on day one of Maintenance. Another caregiver asked for:
“More focus on mental health and dealing with the longevity of treatment.”
The contact nurses provided valuable field notes with each session, with unanimous reports of feeling the sessions strengthened their therapeutic relationships with their patients and respective families.
As of October 2025, REDiAL education sessions have been adopted into the standard of care for leukemia patients receiving treatment at SickKids. Evaluations of the content, delivery, and follow up remain ongoing. The team is excited to share their insight to inspire other institutions to adopt similar initiatives, and expand caregiver education to other time points in leukemia therapy.
This story was written for the spring 2026 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter by Tanya Pryshlak, Clinical Program Coordinator, RN, BScN, The Hospital for Sick Children. Tanya has over eight years of inpatient and outpatient experience in pediatric oncology nursing. She brings a passion for empowering patients and their families through education, and has played a crucial role in the development and roll out of the education sessions.
Spotlight on Nursing Leader Dr. Lindsay Jibb: Pediatric Oncology Research Trailblazer
Dr. Lindsay Jibb’s work is grounded in real-world challenges witnessed firsthand at the bedside. Currently, she leads research in several key areas: improving pain outcomes for children with cancer, supporting parents managing their child’s care at home, and addressing the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families. At the core of it all is a strong commitment to patient- and family-centred research.
Every study includes patients, survivors, or family members as research partners — not just as participants.
“It’s not even an option anymore to exclude those voices,” says Dr. Jibb. “They are integral to generating meaningful questions, ensuring the research is practical, and helping us share results in ways that matter.” This dedication to patient-and-family-centred research is now being integrated into my own doctoral work, which looks at parent perspectives of decision-making about enrollment in clinical trials.
For Dr. Jibb, research has always been a central passion — one that has evolved into a dynamic and impactful career at SickKids and the University of Toronto, where she’s leading transformative work in pediatric oncology nursing.
Dr. Jibb’s path to research began as she completed her undergraduate degree in biology, which gave her early exposure to research through a thesis project. That experience sparked a love for scientific inquiry, leading to the pursuit of her master’s degree in biochemistry though her heart always remained in healthcare. When she later entered nursing school, she knew she wanted to blend her clinical training with her research background.
“I always knew I would involve research somehow,” she explains. “It was a chance to take all the learning we do as nurses — clinical, theoretical, and practical — and use it to directly improve care for patients and families.”
When Dr. Jibb was offered the opportunity to pursue her doctoral degree with Dr. Jennifer Stinson, she jumped, and has been leading innovative pediatric oncology nursing research since.
Unlike her earlier experiences in lab-based science, Dr. Jibb found nursing research to be deeply collaborative and community-oriented.
“As a PhD student, I felt so supported by the nurses, managers, and colleagues on the unit. It felt like we were all working together, and that sense of shared purpose really stuck with me.” As an educator and mentor, Dr. Jibb is passionate about building a pipeline for future nurse researchers. She is an incredible role model, actively demonstrating how nurses can take their bedside experience and employ it in a scientist role to improve experience and outcomes for patients.
“I always say, ‘my door is open,’” she laughs. “If you’re a nurse interested in research, I’ll review your CV, talk about school, or help you find a way in.” Looking ahead, Dr. Jibb is excited about the growing recognition of nursing research in Canada. “It’s an exciting time. Organizations like POGO are investing in this work, and the next generation of nurse researchers is full of energy and fresh ideas.”
For Dr. Jibb, the reward from her research is clear. “When a patient or parent comes back and says, ‘thank you,’ to know that the work we’re doing matters to those people that we’re doing it for makes it all worth it.”
This story was written for the fall 2025 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter by: Rachel Hamilton, RN, MN, PhD(s), PhD Student and RN – 8A Inpatient Haematology/Oncology at SickKids
Nominated by Rachel, Dr. Jibb is the winner of the 2025 POGO Nursing Leadership Award. Rachel considers it a privilege to work under Dr. Jibb’s mentorship. From their first meeting, Dr. Jibb’s passion for research and dedication to improving patient care stood out. Her warmth, intelligence, and commitment to nurturing emerging nurse researchers create an exceptional training environment. Bridging clinical practice and scientific inquiry, Dr. Jibb serves as a role model for students like Rachel. This spotlight draws from Rachel’s interview with Dr. Jibb, highlighting her inspiring journey, impactful research, and contributions to pediatric oncology nursing. Her story is both motivating and enlightening, offering a glimpse into the dedication and passion required to transform patient care through nursing research.
Homeward Bound: Building Pediatric Palliative Care Capacity in Northern Ontario
For many years, our team at the POGO Satellite Clinic in Sudbury, located at Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North (Health Sciences North), has recognized a significant gap in the number of healthcare providers with experience, knowledge, competency and confidence in caring for children with life-limiting illnesses, who are medically fragile or have complex care needs. As a result, many Northern Ontario families do not feel confident bringing their children home from children’s hospitals when they are receiving palliative or end-of-life care, due to limited expertise and support closer to home. This gap has placed a physical, emotional and financial burden on families who must remain far from their communities for extended periods. It also adds pressure to the pediatric palliative care facilities in Ottawa and Toronto.
We’ve long known that as oncology nurses and physicians, we have the skills and experience to care for medically fragile children who live nearby. However, children living in more remote Northern communities often lack access to the same level of care and support.
In my role as the Sudbury POGO Interlink Nurse until recently, the only one serving all of Northern Ontario—I’ve had the privilege of building relationships with healthcare providers across the region. While we’ve offered case-by-case support, I’ve always dreamed of creating a more formal and consistent way to strengthen pediatric palliative care across the North.
That dream became a reality with support from POGO staff and a Kindred Cares Grant from the Kindred Foundation. This funding allowed us to deliver pediatric palliative care education to providers in key Northern Ontario communities, including Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, and North Bay.
Before receiving the grant, I became a certified Pallium LEAP facilitator, which enabled me to share my knowledge and lived experience as a Northern provider familiar with the challenges of limited resources and services.
The education sessions funded by the Kindred Grant were delivered through two models:
- A 2-hour in-person community information session to share knowledge and foster open discussion.
- Two Pallium LEAP Pediatric courses, with funded spots for participants to engage deeply, share experiences, and learn collaboratively.
In total, 67 healthcare professionals from various disciplines participated in these sessions. Together, we explored challenges, brainstormed solutions, and shared both successes and setbacks in a supportive and inclusive environment.
As a result of this initiative, I have since established an online community of practice with providers across the North to help support sustained capacity building. Most importantly, this work has enabled more children and their families to return home for palliative and end-of-life care. There is still a lot work to be done, but I am optimistic about where we are headed.
This story was written for the fall 2025 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter by: Vicky Wilton, RN, POGO Interlink Nurse, Health Science North.
Reflections on Advances in Pediatric Oncology Survivorship and AfterCare
Eleanor Hendershot is an experienced pediatric oncology nurse at McMaster Children’s Hospital, whose career spans over 30 years, including roles at SickKids and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She is deeply focused on survivorship and AfterCare and is a dedicated advocate for evidence-based compassionate follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors.
In reflecting on my last three decades working in pediatric oncology nursing, it’s evident that the field has undergone remarkable transformation. In particular, with my focus on AfterCare for the past 13 years, with experience across leading institutions, I’ve witnessed how advances in therapy, supportive care, and clinical research have significantly improved outcomes.
The majority of children are not only surviving cancer but also living long and productive lives. This progress has shifted attention toward survivorship, with increasing emphasis on the long-term health and well-being of pediatric cancer survivors.
Within survivorship care, the Children’s Oncology Group has developed evidence-based guidelines (www.survivorshipguidelines.org) to support routine screening for late effects of cancer and its treatment. These late effects are influenced by the type of disease and individual treatment exposures (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery), and may include second malignancies, organ dysfunction (cardiovascular, auditory, bony, renal, pulmonary, endocrine, neurocognitive, etc.), and psychosocial concerns. Importantly, late effects may emerge years or even decades after therapy ends, making survivorship care an essential component of comprehensive oncology practice.
One of the most significant recent advances in this field is the refinement of late-effects screening based on new evidence, research and expert consensus. A key example is the monitoring of cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) in survivors treated with anthracyclines (a type of chemotherapy used to treat certain types of cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma). Until recently, guidelines recommended lifelong echocardiograms for all survivors, regardless of cumulative anthracycline dose. New evidence, however, has demonstrated that survivors who received less than 100 mg/m² are not at increased risk of cardiomyopathy and therefore do not require lifelong routine echocardiographic surveillance.
Although this adjustment may appear modest, its impact is profound. Survivors of leukemia, the largest survivor population, typically receive low cumulative anthracycline doses. For these patients and their families, lifelong counselling and repeated cardiac screening created unnecessary anxiety and reinforced the sense of living under ongoing medical surveillance. From a cost-benefit perspective, routine echocardiography in low-risk patients carried significant cost and resource implications without measurable benefit.
As part of the updated guidelines, ongoing heart monitoring is no longer required, allowing leukemia survivors, in some instances, to be discharged from follow-up care once they are ten years post-therapy and have reached the age of 18 or if they are a teenager when diagnosed until both criteria are met.
The benefits of this targeted approach extend well beyond medical outcomes. By reducing unnecessary tests and clinic visits, survivors and families gain greater peace of mind and some relief from the intensity of lifelong surveillance, while healthcare systems benefit from more efficient use of resources. Just as importantly, minimizing disruptions to education, employment, and social development allows survivors to move forward in their lives with greater confidence. This balance—protecting long-term health while recognizing that not all survivors carry the same risks—has become central to modern, individualized survivorship care.
In reflecting on the evolution of pediatric oncology nursing and survivorship care, it’s clear that our field has made tremendous strides—not only in improving survival rates but also in refining how we support survivors long-term. The shift toward individualized care, such as updated cardiac screening guidelines, has reduced unnecessary interventions and empowered survivors to live with greater confidence.
Since 2001, POGO has been a cornerstone in supporting survivors of childhood cancer through its AfterCare Clinic Program network. Today, eight POGO AfterCare Clinics across Ontario serve more than 5,000 survivors, helping ensure that children, adolescents and young adult survivors of childhood cancer receive the essential follow-up care they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
This contribution to “Reflective Practice Corner” was written for the fall 2025 issue of the RePORTer by Eleanor Hendershot, MN, BScN, RN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Reflective Practice Corner, a standing section in The RePORTer—POGO’s Nursing Newsletter—features reflections from nurses across the province, offering insight into their experiences. It also invites readers to pause and consider the questions posed.
Delivering Nursing Education in Thunder Bay, Ontario: A Perspective of Learning and Connection
As pediatric oncology nurses working across Ontario, we share a deep commitment to advancing care for children with cancer. Representing three distinct institutions, we bring together a blend of clinical expertise, Satellite clinic experience, and case management insight. In March 2025, we had the opportunity to travel to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to deliver nursing education, including the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Pediatric Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider course, in preparation for the launch of the POGO Satellite Clinic and POGO Interlink program.
The teaching experience itself was rewarding on many levels. As instructors, it was a chance not only to teach but also to learn from one another. Each of us brought unique perspectives: Kirsty shared a wealth of clinical expertise and knowledge of Satellite care; Kyt contributed deep insights from his extensive background across nearly every pediatric oncology nursing role; and Diana represented one of Thunder Bay’s main referring centres. Observing each other’s teaching styles highlighted both the common ground we share and the distinct approaches that shape our practice.
In addition to the Chemotherapy/Biotherapy course, we delivered two full days of targeted education, to four enthusiastic clinic nurses, on key pediatric oncology topics, including bone marrow suppression, treatment side effect management, fever/neutropenia and sepsis, supportive care, and oncologic emergencies. Some of these topics were identified by the Thunder Bay team (Amy Halvorsen, Manager of Pediatrics, and Nicole Zuefle, POGO Interlink Nurse and Satellite Nurse Coordinator) as areas where additional education was needed. Hands-on learning in central venous line care, port accessing, and closed-system transfer device use provided valuable practical experience. The strong attendance from nurses, physicians, and learners reflected the Thunder Bay team’s dedication and commitment to advancing care.
The trip also offered perspective. Experiencing the distance firsthand underscored the challenges families face when traveling for treatment. The POGO Satellite Clinic at TBRHSC will help ease that burden, allowing children and families to receive care closer to home. This reinforced an important truth: across the province, dedicated pediatric oncology nurses provide specialized care every day. Each individual effort contributes to something greater — a shared commitment to supporting children and families facing cancer.
It was a privilege to meet the TBRHSC nurses and welcome them officially to the POGO family. Their enthusiasm, expertise, and pride in their space were inspiring. Having connected with them in person, it feels especially meaningful when we now send patients their way.
Outside of work, we had time to explore Thunder Bay together. We visited the Terry Fox monument, Kakabeka Falls (“the Falls of the North”), the Sleeping Giant, and enjoyed local cuisine. Weather delays stretched our trip by an extra day — yet another reminder of how travel challenges can impact families seeking treatment. And, from the moment we arrived, it was clear that the local Indigenous culture was thoughtfully woven into the hospital environment. Parking lots were named after animals of spiritual significance, and we learned about the hospital’s Spiritual Care Team, which offers patients and families traditional practices such as smudging. This integration of culture into care was both meaningful and inspiring to see.
The TBRHSC nurses sent us off with a sweet farewell: a box of their famous Persian doughnuts. It was the perfect ending to a trip filled with learning, connection, and shared purpose.
This story was written for the fall 2025 issue of The RePORTer, POGO’s Nursing Newsletter by: Diana Masse, RN, Nurse Case Manager Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, Kirsty Morelli, NP, Satellite Nurse Coordinator, Scarborough Health Network, Kaniska Young-Tai (Kyt), RN, Satellite Nurse Coordinator SickKids
Highlights from the 2024 POGO Symposium: Through a Nurse’s Lens
By Denise Mills
This year, the POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer took an exciting road trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where Ontario’s pediatric oncology community gathered to connect, collaborate, and learn. POGO partner hospitals were well represented, including the five centres with specialized childhood cancer programs and eight POGO Satellite Clinic locations. Over 60 nurses participated in this impactful event! While we can’t relive the Symposium, here are a few key takeaways from the sessions.
Lee Dupuis: The Power of the Patient's Voice in Symptom Management
Lee Dupuis delivered a powerful closing presentation on the critical role of the patient’s voice in improving symptom management. She explained how we define the "patient's voice," how to elicit it from pediatric patients, and why it’s essential to listen and respond effectively to improve care. Lee shared compelling results from a recent trial conducted in the US and Canada, which randomized symptom screening against usual care.
The findings were clear and will be shared in an upcoming publication. For more insights into symptom assessment tools, explore SSPedi and Spark here: Symptom Assessment Tools.
Lee also emphasized the importance of implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in our clinical practices, such as the Spark Clinical Care Pathways. For more information on CPGs, visit the POGO Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Nicole Culos-Reed: Exercise and Fatigue Management in Pediatric Oncology
Nicole Culos-Reed's session highlighted POGO’s updated CPG recommending physical activity as an effective intervention for fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer. Nicole explored the benefits of exercise during treatment, such as protecting muscle strength, improving immune function, and managing common side effects. She also discussed the long-term importance of physical activity after treatment, including its impact on cognitive function, cardiac health, bone mineral density, and the risk of metabolic syndromes.
To learn more about her POEM program (Pediatric Oncology Exercise Manual) and the IMPACT intervention for physical activity during treatment, visit POEM & IMPACT.
Agnes Wong: The Art and Science of Compassion
Agnes Wong led an inspiring session that guided us through the components of compassion, emphasizing the importance of mental and emotional training for healthcare providers. Agnes also underscored the need for self-compassion as a prerequisite for effectively caring for others. She challenged us to consider how compassion training should be integrated at a systems level, in institutions, and in professional training programs.
For those interested in further developing their compassionate practices, Agnes shared a valuable resource: the Mindfulness & Compassion Training Program at the Sarana Institute.
We hope you find these highlights inspiring and insightful. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of the 2024 POGO Symposium!
Improving the Experience: Innovating the Standard Blinatumomab Medical Backpack at SickKids
By: Alia Petropoulosand Lisa Honeyford
Blinatumomab is an immunotherapy primarily used to treat certain types of blood cancers. Its administration necessitates a continuous 28-day infusion delivered on an outpatient basis that families typically can manage at home. Although a standard medical-grade bag is provided to families to hold the device, our clinical team at SickKids identified several design flaws, including poor fit and function for children, along with a distinctly “medical” appearance that can be stigmatizing.
To address these challenges, a grant proposal was submitted to the Garron Family Cancer Centre (GFCC) to improve the experience for families caring for children receiving blinatumomab. Our goal was to understand the challenges families faced going home with a 28-day blinatumomab infusion. We knew that the right carrying bag design could make a significant difference in the daily lives of these patients and maximize the activities they are able to participate in while receiving the medication
Once the project was successfully funded, a dedicated team was assembled, comprising of nurses, an oncologist, a child life specialist, and an industrial designer. Our approach included comprehensive desktop research, product testing, and personal interviews with families to understand their experiences with the current medical bag. The insights gathered after interviewing patients, families, and healthcare providers, led to the creation of a list of criteria for the ideal medical bag. The team then collaborated with an industrial designer to develop a blueprint for a prototype and secured a vendor to produce it for testing.
The new prototype bag was created as a backpack and tested with 10 pediatric patients receiving blinatumomab. Half of the participants began with the standard bag while the other half started with the prototype backpack. The team gathered feedback from frontline nurses and families who completed surveys assessing comfort, function, acceptability, and preference. Remarkably, 9 out of 10 participants preferred the prototype backpack, citing improved fit, comfort, and functionality.
“It really helped my child feel more independent during daily activities,” shared one parent, highlighting the emotional benefits of a well-designed product.
This valuable input guided the industrial designer in creating a second-generation prototype, enhancing the fit, security, and accessibility of the medication and pump, as well as improving how families could set up and wear the bag.
Looking ahead, the project team* is working to secure funding and create a process that will allow the backpack to be accessible to any Canadian child receiving blinatumomab. Canadian sites will be contacted when this step is complete, and backpacks are available for distribution. Future efforts will focus on expanding the availability of the backpack internationally.
[Watch the video The Blina Backpack: Changing how we deliver paediatric immunotherapy treatments]
*Project Team includes Alia Petropoulos, Chantal Campbell, Registered Nurse (RN), Lisa Honeyford and Sue Zupanec, Nurse Practitioner (NP).
About the Authors
Alia Petropoulos and Lisa Honeyford are Interprofessional Education Specialists at SickKids.
Editorial Team Note
Congratulations to the project team who were recently recognized for their innovative intervention, the Blinatumomab Backpack, by way of a SickKids President's Award. The President's Award was introduced in 2011 to recognize staff, teams, students and/or volunteers who demonstrate superior leadership and collaboration resulting in major contributions to the organization.
Evaluating Healthcare Simulation Escape Rooms as an Educational Tool in Nursing Continuing Education: A Fellowship Journey
By: Brennah Holley
Fellowship Overview
Brennah Holley, Clinical Nurse Educator at CHEO in Ottawa (and former Co-Chair of the POGO Nursing Committee), recently completed an Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship (ACPF) through the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and is now conducting an exciting research project (directly related to her fellowship) to explore the potential of Healthcare Simulation Escape Rooms (HSER) as an innovative educational tool in nursing. With the nursing profession facing pressing challenges such as staffing shortages and varied learning needs, her research aims to assess whether HSERs can enhance knowledge acquisition among nursing staff.
“HSERs merge gamification with traditional learning, creating engaging team-based experiences,” Brennah explains. As defined by Anderson et al. (2020), HSERs infuse healthcare themes into interactive escape room settings, offering a fresh platform for education and assessment.
Research Objective and Methodology
At the heart of Brennah’s research is the objective to evaluate HSERs' effectiveness in nursing education. The study, which began in early 2024, will investigate whether engaging in an HSER focused on anaphylaxis leads to better knowledge retention and application compared to traditional lecture formats.
In a randomized controlled trial, nurses at CHEO will be divided into two groups: Group A will receive a lecture, while Group B will experience both the lecture and the HSER. “This approach allows us to gather vital data on the impact of immersive learning,” she notes.
Learning Experience and Skill Development
Brennah’s journey through the fellowship has been rich with learning. She acquired essential skills in research design, ethics submissions, and statistical analysis. Working alongside the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) at CHEO, she navigated the complexities of ethics applications, completing necessary training and developing vital documentation like consent forms.
Addressing knowledge gaps in statistical analysis was a significant focus for Brennah. By collaborating with a co-investigator from CHEO’s CRU, she enhanced her research capacity. “This partnership has been instrumental in refining my project,” she emphasizes.
Brennah also developed her skills in survey design and literature reviews, both critical for creating effective educational tools.
Outcomes and Future Directions
Data collection for her research will extend until early 2025, with plans to draft a manuscript by fall 2025. The implications of Brennah’s research could be profound, providing evidence to support the integration of HSERs into nursing curricula and continuing education programs. “Ultimately, we want to enhance patient care through improved educational strategies,” she states.
Reflections
Reflecting on her ACPF experience, Brennah describes it as transformative, filled with opportunities for professional growth. Presenting at international conferences and collaborating with nurse educators worldwide have enriched her journey. As she begins her master’s in Nursing, she is eager to further explore innovative educational methodologies, with HSERs leading her efforts to improve nursing practice.
In summary, Brennah Holley’s fellowship at CHEO highlights the promise of innovative educational approaches in nursing, paving the way for advancements in continuing education and enhanced patient care.
“We are on the brink of a new era in nursing education,” she concludes, optimistic about the future.
To learn more about Brennah’s fellowship experience or research endeavours, feel free to reach out to her.
