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Joining forces to... Joining forces to improve the quality of life for children living with cancer (Guest blog)
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Joining forces to improve the quality of life for children living with cancer (Guest blog)

07.02.20
Introduction and Context: Pediatric Cancers in Europe and in France
 
Pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers represent a significant public health challenge in Europe, as they remain the first cause of death from disease for children over one year of age. Each year, they represent 35,000 diagnoses and 6,000 deaths. According to estimations, two thirds of children and AYAs having survived cancer encounter long-term physical and psychological complications. Long periods of isolation in specialized treatment units required by such malignancies are particularly distressing for young patients.
 
The VIK-e Program
The Victory in Innovation for Kids – electronic (VIK-e) was born in late 2015 from a meeting between physicians of the Centre Léon Bérard (CLB, Lyon, France) and the Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology (IHOPe - Groupement de cooperation sanitaire Centre Léon Bérard – Hospices Civils de Lyon), pharma company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), tech company Awabot and non-profit organization APPEL (Philanthropic Association for Parents with Children with Leukemia or other cancers), with the objective of breaking the isolation affecting children and AYAs aged 10-25 years but also studying the effects of such a program through a dedicated study. The patients started benefiting from one of Awabot’s robots from the summer of 2016, thereby being able to stay in touch with their families and friends but also to attend classes and even sporting or cultural events.
 
Today, 65 families have benefited from this program thanks to 12 robots.
 
Best-in-class example of multidisciplinary collaboration, the VIK-e program follows a deontological charter laying out general guidance as well as an ethical framework. A Steering Committee was set up, comprising a coordinating physician, the treatment unit manager, a psychologist, the coordinator for non-profits, the IT department of the CLB, the APPEL association as well as Awabot and BMS. VIK-e is also a registered trademark.
 
Thanks to its success, this initiative was the focus of several layman and scientific publications, as well as political discussions e.g. through a visit at the French National Assembly or in the context of a dedicated roundtable hosted by a Member of the European Parliament at the CLB in April 2018.

Steering Committee of the VIK-e Program

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Study Results and Next Steps
 
The study followed 17 patients (aged 10-25 years), their families and healthcare professionals in order to assess their experience and the effects of the program, conducted by two researchers in human and social sciences (a philosopher and a psychologist).
 
Two years after the study launch, results were published in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology and presented at the European Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOPE) Congress in October 2019.
 
This observational study led the authors to highly positive conclusions on the benefits of the program on patients, their families and healthcare professionals, while underscoring its limits in order to issue clear recommendations on indications and future implementation. Other research projects are currently being set up to confirm these positive results in other indications.

Conclusion:

Even though 80% of children affected by cancer are alive after 5 years, there is still a long way ahead in fighting the disease, its long-term aftereffects and to improve the daily life of young patients.

 In parallel to medical care, improving patient experience also relies on a holistic approach taking into account overall needs and improvement of quality of life. Maintaining the link with family, friends and school life is essential to children and AYAs undergoing long and isolated treatment.

Such is the ambition of the VIK-e program, resulting from a collaborative and coordinated approach led by stakeholders from the health sector committed to the fight against pediatric cancers.

Quotes from stakeholders:

Léon Bérard Center:

“As a cancer center with a triple mission comprising care, research and teaching, innovation is in our DNA. Projects such as VIK-e combining innovative technology and the human aspect of our care can only gain support from all of us, healthcare professionals, patients and closed ones, but also from our industry and association partners. We are all proud of this multidisciplinary success” notes Professor Jean-Yves Blay, Director of the Léon Bérard Center.

“This is an incredible project which we have assessed over 2 years, with 24 young patients aged 10 to 25, with very positive results. It was a first in a hospital context, hence we wished to identify potential pitfalls and check whether this concept was truly beneficial to patients and their families. These results led us to continue the project and even to set it up in other French pediatric care centers or for adults hospitalized over long periods and with young children.” states Dr. Perrine Marec-Bérard, administrator of the Lyon Hematology and Pediatric Oncology Institute, and pediatric oncologist and project co-founder.

Medical staff:

“Regarding the medical staff: there is true importance in familiarizing oneself with the environment of the patient and his/her enlarged family in order to deepen and diversify the care relationship.

This demands particular attention to the issue of health data sharing and non-verbal relations with parents, made more difficult in this virtual presence context”

Parents:

“We wish to sincerely thank you for allowing us to go through this experience with the robot. Whether for our our child or the family, it has been exceptional support and precious help. We are conscious of how lucky we are.”

“For APPEL, there was ‘before’ and ‘after’ VIK-e. For decades we have supported children isolated from the external world, sometimes for months. Giving them the possibility of going out virtually to re-engage with their environment is a true perk.

A child’s disease has an impact on the entire family. The hospitalized child and his/her brothers and sisters often have a difficult time coping with the sudden and violent cutoff imposed by the protected environment. The telepresence Robot allows brothers and sisters to maintain close ties and to de-dramatize the physical separation. It also allows the ill child to go to class as a normal pupil again.

“At Bristol-Myers Squibb, we are convinced of the importance to approach disease in a holistic fashion, looking to bring all stakeholders around the table. Our involvement is based on three interlinked pillars: ‘curing’, ‘caring’ and ‘mobilizing’. (quote from the Sept. 2016 BMS press kit)

Awabot

“The VIK-e program is near and dear to our heart. It is the outcome of a true mission: breaking the isolation of children and adults thanks to mobile telepresence and thereby using technology as a means to social inclusion and solidarity.”


Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. In France, you can follow us on BMS.com/fr, YouTube and Twitter

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