To examine the rehabilitation needs of pediatric oncology patients aged 0–19 years during and after treatment, focusing on accessibility, barriers, and stakeholder readiness.
Approach:
Survey Methodology: Three parallel questionnaire surveys were conducted among parents (N = 394), physiotherapists (N = 318), and rehabilitation physicians (N = 85), analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and thematic analysis.
Key Findings:
63.7% of parents reported their child required rehabilitation during active treatment, but only 53.3% received it.
Unmet need rate was 10.4% during treatment and rose to 13.3% post-treatment.
29.5% of children required therapy for more than six months during treatment, increasing to 47.6% post-treatment.
80% of physiotherapists and 74% of rehabilitation physicians rated their graduation-level knowledge as insufficient.
66% of physiotherapists and 54% of physicians expressed interest in joining a specialized competence network.
Interpretation:
There is a significant gap between the demand for chronic rehabilitation and the capacity of the healthcare system, attributed to insufficient training rather than lack of motivation among professionals.
Limitations:
The study is limited to the Czech Republic and may not be generalizable to other regions.
Potential biases in self-reported data from stakeholders.
Conclusion:
Establishing targeted educational programs and a structured competence network like RehaSÍŤ may improve access to high-quality supportive care.
