Perspectives on follow-up care and research for childhood cancer
survivors: results from an international SIOP meet-the-expert
questionnaire in Kyoto, 2018
Abstract
Introduction Survival of childhood cancer has increased over the past
decades. This has led to the development of strategies aiming to enhance
follow-up care and research, for which priorities may vary globally. We
explored perspectives of an international healthcare workers panel.
Methods Attendants of a meet-the-expert session on childhood cancer
survivorship at the 2018 SIOP conference completed a survey about their
view on important follow-up care and research aspects for survivors
below and over 18 years. We analyzed overarching categories and
subtopics, and compared Asian versus European and American healthcare
workers. Results Fifty-eight participants from different medical
specialties (67.2% pediatric oncologists) and continents (48.3% Asia,
39.7% Europe/America) responded. Follow-up care priorities for
survivors below and over 18 years included physical care (39.3% ≤18
years, 35.9% >18 years) and healthcare structure (29.4%,
26.0%). Physical care was also the most important research aspect for
both age groups (52.5%, 50.7%). Asian clinicians (n=22) primarily
prioritized physical care aspects of follow-up care (48.0%, 45.6%),
whereas European/American (n=19) clinicians underscored the importance
of healthcare structure (43.9%, 34.4%). The main research priority
category concerned physical care for all clinicians. Psychological
support was the most frequently reported subtopic. Conclusion Physical
care is the most important aspect of survivorship care and research
according to clinicians from several continents. Asian and
European/American respondents shared most priorities, however,
healthcare structure was a more important category for European/American
clinicians. The most common subtopic was psychological support,
underlining also the need to involve psychologists in follow-up.