A Quality Approach to Blinatumomab Delivery in Pediatric Oncology: A Children's Oncology Group Study

Abstract

Background: Blinatumomab is a promising immunotherapy agent that has been shown to improve survival outcomes in children diagnosed with relapsed B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Expanded use of blinatumomab in the treatment of childhood cancer is expected; however, clinician perspectives regarding administering this agent in healthcare and home settings have not been explored. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians ( N = 13) from pediatric institutions across the United States and Canada. Qualitative data were analyzed using a constant comparative analysis three-stage method. Results: Participants were primarily nurses (92%), female (77%), and had greater than 10 years of pediatric oncology experience. The selective code and overarching theme identified was “A quality approach to blinatumomab delivery in pediatric oncology.” Clinicians described detailed processes that were created and implemented to promote a common goal of safe blinatumomab administration across the continuum of care. Clinicians shared how they engaged in planning activities and considered a variety of factors prior to and during blinatumomab administration. Clinicians also expressed a need to reflect and evaluate on previous patient experiences to create new or revise existing processes and workflows. Communication was also central to clinicians’ work. Clinicians provided recommendations to assist others with blinatumomab administration and offered suggestions for items that could help with implementing future clinical trials containing similar agents. Discussion: Findings suggest nurses are pivotal to establishing processes which support safe administration of immunotherapies, such as blinatumomab, while also considering patient-specific needs and promoting quality of life.