Factors associated with childhood cancer survivors’ knowledge about their diagnosis, treatment, and risk for late effects

Abstract

Findings can be utilized to target survivors at risk for knowledge deficits.

Perceptions of future health and cancer risk in adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

“…In addition, only 35% of the participants believed that past therapies could cause a serious health problem with the passage of time. Other studies have found similar deficits in knowledge of treatment and the risk of late effects …”

Assessment of end‐of‐treatment transition needs for pediatric cancer and hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and their families

“…Patients and their parents have previously demonstrated significant knowledge deficits related to their illness and treatment . In a study of 250 survivors of childhood cancer ages 15–26 years, 32% had limited to no knowledge about their cancer therapy, 33% did not know of at least some of their risks for late effects, and 6% did not know the name of their cancer . In a study of 141 survivors, only 50% of patients (mean age = 16 years) could list one or more specific drugs they received .…”

Perceptions of risk of infertility among male survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

“…Previous research has indicated that lower educational attainment predicts a lower awareness of personal risks of late effects among survivors, whereas engagement in education during long‐term follow‐up (LTFU) care visits can increase survivors' knowledge of their risk of late effects . Younger age at the time of diagnosis has been found to be significantly associated with survivors' poorer specific knowledge of their chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy histories . Earlier work from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) demonstrated that approximately 37% of adult male survivors who met the definition for infertility also reported fathering at least 1 child, thus indicating that fertility and infertility are not dichotomous experiences in survivorship .…”