The Oncology Family Forum: Collaborating With Families to Codesign Pediatric Oncology Services

Abstract

The Oncology Services Group at Queensland Children’s Hospital established an Oncology Family Forum in 2018 to enable codesign of service improvements. A total of 26 family members attended the first 4 Forums, with between 12 and 15 attendees at each. Attendees represented a range of diagnoses, were 85% female, 85% resided within 40 km of the tertiary center, and 26% were on-treatment. In a survey of attendees, 83% agreed that the Forum had improved families’ service experience and 92% supported the codesign partnership and the exploration of their suggestions. A small proportion (25%) of attendees disagreed that there was enough time to share, 17% disagreed that all their questions were answered, and 17% disagreed that the Forum represented views of regional families. Respondents identified collaboration, improving understanding and communication as positive aspects of the Forums. Forums will continue to be offered regularly, augmented by videoconferencing (particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic), written responses to family questions and special interest discussion groups. The new collaborations and programs that have been initiated, codesigned, and progressed through these Forums will continue to be the focus of service delivery and quality improvements.