Surviving cancer; what does it mean for you? An evaluation of a clinic based intervention for survivors of childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate a clinic based intervention designed to improve attitude to follow-up, increase self-efficacy or confidence to care for health, and raise awareness of possible vulnerability to future health issues among survivors of childhood cancer. The intervention included an information booklet, treatment summary and separate information sheets, which were explained to survivors as part of routine follow-up care. PROCEDURE: Survivors (n=263; mean age=21 years; >5 years since diagnosis) attending one of seven United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) late-effects follow-up clinics completed questionnaires before and after the intervention. Outcome measures included self-ratings of importance of follow-up, readiness to change behaviour, self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability, and ratings of informativeness and emotional content of the written material.
RESULTS: Responders were more likely to be female than non-responders, held more positive views about the importance of follow-up and perceived themselves to be more vulnerable to health risk. After the intervention, responders reported that they were more prepared to change their behaviour, had increased self-efficacy, but also perceived themselves to be more vulnerable to future health problems.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the intervention is a relatively simple way to enhance awareness among survivors about the importance of follow-up and need for vigilance in their healthcare. Difficulties in recruiting survivors who failed to attend are considered.