Abstract
Background and Aims. Since the war in Ukraine which began on
February 2022, many pediatric oncology centers have welcomed patients
from Ukraine. To understand the needs of patients and families arriving
at our hospital, an anonymous questionnaire investigated the families’
backgrounds, feelings and impressions about hospitality and care.
Methods Twenty items investigated how patients had reached
Italy, from whom they received help (logistically/economically);
emotions regarding their statusas war refugees; knowledge, expectations,
and opinions about Italy and Italians; the quality of medical care
received and relationships with the healthcare staff; suggestions to
improve assistance. Results Questionnaires were completed by
19/32 patient/parents in the time interval May-November 2022 in two
different pediatric-oncology centers in the north of Italy. Most
families had reached Italy (58%) and received medical care (95%)
thanks to the help of Charities and the Italian Public Health Care
System. Many of them (69%) declared themselves to be satisfied by the
assistance. The Italian population appeared friendly (95%) and generous
(58%). The improvement of their stay correlated with the positive
outcome of their children (15%), the presence of the whole family
(15%), the end of the war (10%), and the overcoming of language
barriers (10%) Conclusions. Taking care of children from a
different country suffering the traumatic experience of fleeing their
country in addition to the equally traumatic condition of cancer
disease, is a huge task. Our questionnaire aimed at obtaining a better
understanding of families’ conditions, not at bridging the relational
gap due to different culture and experiences.