Changing Catheter Locking Solutions in Paediatric Cancer Care: What Gets in the Way (and What Helps)
Posted
on 7 July 2026
 "Changing Catheter Locking Solutions in Paediatric Cancer Care: What Gets in the Way (and What Helps)")
| Study Overview In paediatric oncology, central venous access devices (CVADs) are essential, but complications like occlusion and infection can disrupt treatment and cause significant harm. While alternative catheter locking solutions show promise, changing routine practice across hospitals is rarely straightforward. This study explored what it would take to implement an alternative catheter locking solution in paediatric cancer care. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with clinicians and decision makers across four Australian hospitals (23 participants). Using an implementation science approach, they identified key barriers and enablers, matched them to practical implementation strategies, and estimated the cost of rolling those strategies out at a site level. Key Findings
Implications This paper reinforces a practical truth: even when an intervention is clinically promising, implementation can stall without the right supports. For paediatric oncology services considering a new catheter locking solution, success will likely depend on three things:
The benefit of this approach is that it makes implementation actionable and budgetable, helping services plan for real-world uptake rather than relying on goodwill alone. Read more:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2026.103216 Authors: Elouise R. Comber; Amanda J. Ullman; Victoria Gibson; Mari Takashima; Joshua Byr; Samantha Keogh |
