Background: Research on parent understanding of homecare management of external central venous access devices (CVADs) for children with cancer is limited.
Objectives: The goal was to investigate whether the use of a DVD education intervention reduced adverse complications and improved parent education for homecare management of CVADs for pediatric patients with cancer.
Methods: Participants were randomized to an experimental group (DVD and nurse teaching) or a control group (nurse teaching). Postintervention evaluation included parent satisfaction and CVAD knowledge proficiency, blood infection rates, use of alteplase, and CVAD replacement.
Findings: Fifty-four enrolled caregiver-patient dyads completed the study measures, with 21 dyads assigned to the control group and 33 assigned to the experimental group. Alteplase was ordered significantly less often in the experimental group. No other findings were significant.
Keywords: Patient education; nursing; pediatric oncology; vascular access device.