We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Attitudes and experiences of childhood cancer survivors transitioning from pediatric care to adult care.
- Authors
Nandakumar, Beeshman S.; Fardell, Joanna E.; Wakefield, Claire E.; Signorelli, Christina; Mcloone, Jordana K.; Skeen, Jane; Maguire, Ann M.; Cohn, Richard J.; On Behalf Of The Anzchog Survivorship Study Group; Anzchog Survivorship Study Group
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>Survivors of pediatric cancer are prone to late effects which require ongoing medical care. Young adult survivors often transition from specialist pediatric care to adult-oriented or community-based healthcare. This study aims to describe the attitudes and experiences of survivors and their parents towards transition barriers and enablers.<bold>Methods: </bold>Long-term survivors and parents (of survivors < 16 years) were recruited from 11 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview regarding their transition experiences. Transcribed interviews were coded and content analysis was used to number participants within themes.<bold>Results: </bold>Thirty-three participants were interviewed, of which 18 were survivors (mean age 26 years, SD = 6.3; mean time since treatment completion 13.3 years, SD = 6.1) and 15 were parents (mean survivor age 15 years, SD = 1.9; mean time since treatment completion 8.4 years, SD = 2.8). Participants described their transition attitudes as positive (55%), neutral (15%), or negative (30%). Key barriers to transition included dependence on pediatric healthcare providers, less confidence in primary care physicians (PCPs), inadequate communication, and cognitive difficulty. Enablers included confidence in and proximity to physicians, good communication, information, independence, and age.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Many survivors face barriers to their transition out of pediatric care. Early introduction to transition, greater collaboration between healthcare professionals, and better information provision to survivors may improve the transition process. Future research of survivors' experience of barriers/enablers to transition is needed. Development of interventions, such as those that address self-management skills, is required to facilitate transition and encourage long-term engagement.
- Subjects
CHILDHOOD cancer; CANCER patient attitudes; PHYSICIAN-patient relations; PRIMARY care; SELF-management (Psychology); TUMORS &; psychology; ATTITUDE (Psychology); MEDICAL care; QUESTIONNAIRES; RESEARCH funding; TUMORS; ARTHRITIS Impact Measurement Scales
- Publication
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018, Vol 26, Issue 8, p2743
- ISSN
0941-4355
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00520-018-4077-5