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Optimization Of School Reintegration For Pediatric Oncology Patients And Their Peers, Savannah Fotheringham, Patrick Karabon, Tracy Wunderlich-Barillas, Janis Traynor, L. Kate Gowans

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Improved survival rates of pediatric oncology patients give them the opportunity to return to school. This can present a significant challenge, as returning students often become vulnerable to peer rejection. The objective of this double-arm descriptive study was to establish a framework from which to optimize a school reintegration intervention for the peers of pediatric oncology patients. Ultimately, the study aimed to promote increased knowledge, acceptance by peers, and a smooth transition back to school for childhood cancer survivors. We utilized age-appropriate surveys to evaluate the knowledge and concerns of 3rd to 8th-grade students in Michigan regarding friends with cancer …