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  • Title: Transition and transfer of childhood cancer survivors to adult care: A national survey of pediatric oncologists.
    Author: Kenney LB, Melvin P, Fishman LN, O'Sullivan-Oliveira J, Sawicki GS, Ziniel S, Diller L, Fernandes SM.
    Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer; 2017 Feb; 64(2):346-352. PubMed ID: 27463688.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Pediatric oncologists are responsible for ensuring that adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors have the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their follow-up care in adult healthcare systems. PROCEDURES: To describe transition practices and barriers to transfer, we electronically surveyed U.S. Children's Oncology Group members: 507/1449 responded (35%) and 347/507 (68%) met eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Of 347 respondents, 50% are male, median years in practice 10 (range 5-22), 37% practice in freestanding children's hospitals. Almost all care for survivors up to age 21 years (96%), 42% care for survivors over age 25 years, and only 16% over age 30 years. While 66% of oncologists reported providing transition education to their patients, very few (8%) reported using standardized transition assessments. The most frequent barriers to transfer were perceived attachment to provider (91%), lack of adult providers with cancer survivor expertise (86%), patient's cognitive delay (81%), or unstable social situation (80%). Oncologists who continue to care for patients older than 25 years are more likely to perceive parents' attachment to provider (P = 0.037) and patients' social situation as barriers to transfer (P = 0.044).  Four themes emerged from a content analysis of 75 respondents to the open-ended question inviting comments on transition/transfer practices: desire for flexible transfer criteria; providers as barriers; provider lack of transition knowledge, skills, and resources; and desire for collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Although most pediatric oncologists reported transferring AYA cancer survivors to adult care and providing some transition education, they endorse deficits in transition skills, emotional readiness, and institutional resources.
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