Abstract
Purpose:
To describe an initiative to establish university health centers (UHC) as sites for transition to adult care for university-bound pediatric cancer survivors. UHC providers were educated about survivor care and SurvivorLink, an internet-based patient-controlled personal health record with educational resources. Changes in UHC providers' familiarity with and practice related to survivor care were measured.
Methods:
Lectures on survivor care were given and UHC providers were encouraged to register on SurvivorLink. During registration, providers completed a pre-survey of their familiarity with survivor care, survivor healthcare plans (SHPs), and the Children's Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up (COG LTFU) Guidelines, and their current practice of and comfort with providing survivor care. The follow-up survey measured the same parameters. Results were stratified based on UHC engagement: established (≥75% of UHC providers registered on SurvivorLink) and emerging (<75% registered).
Results:
Six universities participated in the network and 41 providers (64% of UHC providers) registered on SurvivorLink. Thirty pre- and post-surveys were completed. Overall, there was an increase in providers' familiarity with survivor care (p=0.02) and SHPs (p=0.05), and in providing survivor care (p=0.01). When stratified by engagement, increases in familiarity and providing survivor care were seen among UHCs with established engagement. There were no changes in familiarity with COG LTFU Guidelines or in comfort providing survivor care.
Conclusions:
Providers at UHCs with established engagement increased their familiarity with and likelihood to provide survivor care. UHCs can serve as sites for transition of care for YA survivors of pediatric cancer.
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