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Learning Objective 1: To learn late effects and health concerns in childhood cancer survivors for follow-up care
Learning Objective 2: To develop a long-term care plan for childhood cancer survivors
To describe late effects and health concerns in childhood cancer survivors in pediatric clinical practice
Methods:
Triangulation method was used to data collection. Open-ended interviews were conducted in a quiet in-hospital setting. Interview data were analyzed using content analysis. Structure questionnaires were used to assess late effects. 178 childhood cancer survivors at age between 7 and 20 years old were recruited from 2011 to 2012 in Taiwan.
Results:
Only 7% of childhood cancer survivors were drop from school because of inadaptation. 14.4% childhood cancer survivors had over 6 adverse events in. 27.5% children had obesity. The most frequency of late effects was fatigue (20%), cognitive problems (18.7%), and gastrointestinal problems (13.6%). The main concerns of childhood cancer survivors were relapse (32%), nutrition (25.3%), and self-care (13%). Childhood cancer survivors with brain tumor had significant higher adverse events than ALL, and Non-CNS tumor (F= 4.82, p= .003). Receiving radiation of survivors had significant higher adverse events than those had not received (F= 14.98, p= .001).
Conclusion:
Only 22.8% childhood cancer survivors were free from late effects. The frequency of adverse events in childhood cancer survivors was different from diagnosis, and having radiation. Survivors needed to be knowledge about the possible consequences of treatments, and health care system need to develop a long-term and follow-up care to prevent and treat late effects early.