Development and Pilot Evaluation of 'Ready Steady School' a PersonalisedWebsite to Promote School Engagement Among Students With Cancer

Abstract

Background and Aims: Advancements in diagnosis and treatment have resulted in an increasing number of children surviving cancer. However lengthy treatments combined with the physical and cognitive impacts of cancer may significantly disrupt school attendance and participation, curtail learning prospects, and limit opportunities for young survivors to socialise with peers. The aims of this study were to: 1.) co-design Ready, Steady, School (RSS) an individually tailored website for students with cancer, their parents and teachers, to help facilitate a child's education from diagnosis to survivorship; and 2.) pilot-test the RSS website. Methods: The RSS website content and structure was codesigned with students, parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals (n = 14). Parents of survivors of childhood cancer were given access to RSS for 2-weeks and invited to complete preand post- questionnaires measuring feasibility, acceptability, and utility of RSS, student self-education advocacy/confidence, and level of unmet school-based information needs. Parents were also offered an optional semi-structured qualitative interview. Results: Nineteen parents (100% mothers, mean age = 40.3 years) of children diagnosed with cancer (mean age at diagnosis = 3.5 years, mixed diagnoses), opted-in to the pilot study, with eight completing both pre- and post- questionnaires. On average parents spent 102 mins (range = 20mins-4 hrs) using the website. All parents (100%) reported that the content was 'easy to understand', 'useful', and were 'satisfied with the quality of information'. All parents (100%) agreed that RSS improved their knowledge about 'their child's education needs', and 'strategies to support their child's education', and were 'satisfied with the website overall'. Most parents (87.5%) would use RSS again in future. The most frequently accessed website pages related to cancer's impact on school and learning, social and emotional development, and accessing educational support. Conclusions: Children with cancer face numerous challenges returning to school. Preliminary evaluation suggests RSS provides tailored, relevant and reliable information to support childhood cancer survivors' ongoing education.