Development and evaluation of an information booklet for adult survivors of cancer in childhood
a Department of Oncology, Birmingham
Children's Hospital, b Department of
Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4GQ
Correspondence to: Dr Eiser.
Accepted 20 October 1997
AIMS
To determine the need for information among
survivors of childhood cancer, to assess the acceptability of an
information booklet, and to investigate the effectiveness of the
booklet in increasing knowledge and influencing health related behaviours.
SUBJECTSFifty survivors of childhood cancer (age
range 14-32 years) who were consecutive attendees at a long term
follow up clinic.
METHODSThe booklet was developed for young
people aged 14 years and above by the United Kingdom Children's Cancer
Study Group Late Effects Group. Included is information about treatment
of cancer, general advice about a healthy lifestyle, the rationale for
long term follow up, and information about employment and life
insurance problems.
Survivors were interviewed at the follow up clinic, offered
the booklet, and contacted approximately one week later for a telephone
interview. The clinic interview assessed survivors' understanding of
their illness and treatment and its impact on their lives, and their
preferences for further information. The telephone interview determined
survivors' general reaction to the booklet, whether it increased
knowledge and influenced health related behaviours.
RESULTSAll those interviewed accepted the
written information and agreed to a follow up interview. Survivors were
enthusiastic about being given more information. Over three quarters
learned new information from the booklet. There were no indications
that the information was associated with anxiety for any demographic or clinical subgroups. After reading the booklet there was an increased awareness of the risk from sunbathing (p < 0.05), and greater appreciation of the importance of follow up (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that written
information is likely to be an acceptable and effective supplement to
discussions with medical professionals and may readily be incorporated
into long term follow up clinics.
© 1998 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Speechley, K. N., Barrera, M., Shaw, A. K., Morrison, H. I., Maunsell, E.
(2006). Health-Related Quality of Life Among Child and Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer. JCO
24: 2536-2543
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Kadan-Lottick, N. S., Robison, L. L., Gurney, J. G., Neglia, J. P., Yasui, Y., Hayashi, R., Hudson, M., Greenberg, M., Mertens, A. C.
(2002). Childhood Cancer Survivors' Knowledge About Their Past Diagnosis and Treatment: Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. JAMA
287: 1832-1839
[Abstract] [Full Text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in ADC Online
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
