Prediction of health behaviors in pediatric cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the factors that motivate survivors of childhood cancer to engage in healthy behaviors. This is because of their susceptibility to adverse late effects from their malignancy and its treatment. We specifically examined sociodemographic and health perception variables as predictors of health-protective behaviors in pediatric cancer survivors. PROCEDURE: Forty-six patients, ages 10--18 years, who were previously treated for cancer and were 1--4 years off-therapy, were assessed using a battery of testing instruments.
RESULTS: Preadolescent and adolescent cancer survivors reported moderately frequent practice of a variety of health-protective behaviors. The prevalence of risky health behaviors, as indicated by alcohol and tobacco use, was low. Regression analyses indicated that the practice of health-protective behaviors was best predicted by patient's age and socioeconomic status (SES); younger adolescents and patients from higher SES more frequently engaged in healthy behaviors. Health perception variables were not significantly related to health-protective behaviors. This was true despite findings that survivors perceived themselves to be vulnerable to health problems, identified a need to protect their health, and perceived their health outcomes to be largely determined by their own behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic factors should be kept in mind when designing interventions to promote continuing good health for young cancer survivors. Also to be included is the assessment of specific health risks secondary to the cancer therapies given. Risk counseling that recognizes and builds on these variables will be most effective in helping this patient population observe sound health habits. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.