Survivorship Care Preferences: A Pilot Study of Young Adults With Cancer

The impact of survivorship care plans on adolescent and young adult head and neck cancer survivors and their primary care providers

PURPOSE

A cross sectional study of adolescent and young adult (AYA) head and neck (H&N) cancer survivors was performed to assess late effects. Survivorship care plans (SCPs) were generated and evaluated by participants and their primary care providers (PCPs).

METHODS

AYA H&N survivors who had been discharged over 5 years prior from our institution were assessed in recall consultation by a radiation oncologist. Late effects were assessed and individualized SCPS were created for each participant. Participants completed a survey evaluating the SCP. PCPs were surveyed before the consultation and after evaluating the SCP.

RESULTS

31/36 participants (86%) completed the SCP evaluation. The SCP was considered to be a positive experience for 93% of participants. Most of the AYA participants indicated that the information provided in the SCP helped them understand the need for follow-up to assess late effects (90%). The pre-consultation PCP survey response rate was 13/27 (48%) and only 34% were comfortable in providing survivorship care for AYA H&N cancer patients. The PCP response rate to the survey that accompanied the SCP was 15/27 (55%) and the majority (93%) reported that the SCP would be helpful to care for other AYA and non-AYA cancer survivors in their practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research suggested that AYA head and neck cancer survivors valued the SCPs as did their PCPs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

The introduction of SCPs is likely to help improve survivorship and transitioning of care from the oncology clinic to PCP in this population.

Analysis of Pediatric Oncology Nursing Research in Mainland China, 2008-2018

BACKGROUND

Up-to-date research from low- and middle-income countries is needed to inform local pediatric cancer nursing care and share best practices from these settings. Access to all current Chinese-language publications on pediatric oncology nursing research is limited because of a language barrier.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to document the volume, type of research study, and yearly and geographical distribution of published pediatric oncology nursing research in Mainland China and evaluate their content and quality.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed for published pediatric oncology research conducted by nurses in Mainland China (2008-2018), using 3 English databases and 3 Chinese databases. Included articles were evaluated using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Research Evidence Appraisal for strength and quality of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 133 articles were included: 106 in Chinese and 27 in English. Most studies showed level III evidence (88/133) and were rated as good quality (81/133). The most frequently researched topics were psychosocial care, clinical nursing practice, and psychometric testing, which accounted for 63.2% of all publications.

CONCLUSIONS

Progress in pediatric oncology nursing research capacity among Mainland China is promising. To gain higher-quality evidence and make existing evidence transferable for nursing practice, optimization of specific research topics is still needed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

In Mainland China, developing interventions to address the symptoms of children with cancer and caregivers' psychosocial issues based on local nursing research should be prioritized. Some synthesized findings of this review may serve as guidance for the future of pediatric oncology nursing science in similar settings.