Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39753258›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on the patient journeys of those with a newly diagnosed paediatric brain tumour in the UK: a qualitative study.

Kalsoom Akhter, Roland Casson, Liz Brewster, G A Amos Burke, John-Paul Kilday, Donald Macarthur, Rachel Isba, Ibrahim Jalloh

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis and management of new brain tumours in children and young people (aged < 16 years old) in the UK.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2025
    Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Kalsoom AkhterCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Roland CassonCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Liz BrewsterLancaster University, Lancaster, UK e.brewster@lancaster.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3604-2897
G A Amos BurkeUniversity of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2671-9972
John-Paul KildayCentral Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
Donald MacarthurNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Rachel IsbaLancaster University, Lancaster, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2896-4309
Ibrahim JallohCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo explore the impact of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, management and patient journey for children and young people with a newly diagnosed brain tumour in the UK.

designExploratory qualitative study focused on patient journeys from multiple perspectives, conducted as part of a wider mixed-methods study.

settingThree paediatric oncology tertiary centres in the UK.

participants10 children and young people with brain tumours (n=6 females, n=4 males), 20 caregivers (n=16 females, n=4 males) and 16 stakeholders (specialist nurses, consultant neurosurgeons and oncologists, and representatives from brain tumour charities) were interviewed between January 2022 and June 2023.

resultsThe paper incorporates multiple perspectives, including those of children and young people, parents/caregivers, clinical staff and charity representatives, to explore the patient journey. Five themes describe the journey for new patients with paediatric brain tumour during the pandemic, focusing on (1) challenges getting into the healthcare system, (2) managing as a family during restrictions imposed by the pandemic, (3) complexities of building a cohesive and supportive healthcare team, (4) difficulties caregivers experienced in accessing practical and emotional support in hospital and (5) ongoing difficulties experienced by families in the community.

conclusionsFindings from this study offer practical insights from children, parents/caregivers and relevant stakeholders to improve the healthcare system during future disruptions. Overall, this study not only sheds light on the challenges faced by families during the pandemic but also provides suggestions for improving healthcare services to ensure a more comprehensive and effective response in times of crisis.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsCOVID-19Qualitative ResearchAdolescentCaregiversChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMalePandemicsParentsSARS-CoV-2United KingdomCOVID-19Health ServicesPaediatric oncologyPAEDIATRICS

Identifiers

PMID39753258
PMCPMC11749440

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.