Current pediatric cancer survivorship practices: a report from the Children’s Oncology Group

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Karen Effinger, Emory University; Regine Haardoerfer, Emory University; J Gilleland Marchak, Emory University; Ngoc-Cam Escoffery, Emory University; W Landier, University of Alabama; A Kommajosula, Emory University; E Hendershot, McMaster Children’s Hospital; KT Sadak, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and Cancer Center; D Eshelman-Kent, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; K Kinahan, Northwestern University, Chicago; DR Freyer, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; EJ Chow, Seattle Children’s Hospital; Ann Mertens, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-31
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11764-021-01157-w
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 10
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Children’s Oncology Group Outcomes and Survivorship, Adolescent and Young Adult, and Nursing Committees, the National Cancer Institute under Award Numbers U10CA180886 and UG1CA189955, the National Cancer Institute under Award Number CA218389-04, and the Intervention Development, Dissemination and Implementation Developing shared resource of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and NIH/NCI under award number P30CA138292.
• Keywords: Survivorship; Pediatric cancer; Cross-sectional study; Late effects services
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Oncology; Health Sciences, Human Development

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe current survivor services provided by COG institutions. Methods A 190-question online survey was distributed to 209 COG member institutions over a 5-month period in 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to describe survivor services and explore their changes between 2007 and 2017. Results Representatives from 153 (73%) institutions completed the survey. Of these, 96% of institutions reported that they provide pediatric cancer survivor care either in a specialized late effects program (75%) or a regular pediatric oncology clinic (24%). However, only 29.8% of institutions reported that > 75% of eligible patients were seen in a survivorship clinic. The most prevalent reported barriers to survivor care were lack of dedicated time (58%) and lack of funding for program development (41%). In 2017, 88% of institutions provided a treatment summary compared to 31% in 2007. Conclusion The majority of COG institutions have dedicated care for pediatric and young adult survivors of childhood cancer; however, at most institutions, < 75% of eligible patients access this care. Research into more efficient technology strategies is needed to ensure all survivors the opportunity to receive appropriate follow-up care. Implications for Cancer Survivors This survey provides a snapshot of the status of late effects services within COG institutions and provides information on residual gaps in services. Next steps should focus on the importance of attendance in a survivorship clinic on the physical health and psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors.