An Innovative Educational Program for International Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Pediatric patients and their families confront a difficult journey with hematopoietic cell transplantation. Understanding complex information, navigation, and coping with emotional, physical, and social changes in the patient, parents and family nucleus life could be quite challenging for all. In Spanish-speaking countries where transplant is emerging as an available treatment option, healthcare professionals encounter the lack or limited quality resources to educate pediatric patients and their families on a complex treatment process. Also, the level of literacy of each family varies widely, making transplant education very difficult to address in a simple and engaging way that could benefit all levels of literacy and foster well-being in the family as a whole, so they are prepared to make better informed decisions and decrease stress in all members. Super Sam versus the Marrow Monsters is a DVD resource made by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP)/Be The Match® intended as an educational tool, to be shared with our U.S. network transplant centers to use when educating their pediatric patients. Hospital Angeles Lomas in the State of Mexico-member of the NMDP international network-has adopted the DVD with their pediatric audience, with very successful results, and demonstrates the benefits of expanding the initial intended use.