This project was conducted June 2010 through May 2011 and was funded by a grant from the University of Chicago. Childhood cancer survivors should receive long-term risk-based follow-up care, but there appears to be a disconnect among the physicians treating cancer, the survivors, and their primary care physicians. The specific aims of this survey was to describe the attitudes and knowledge of family physicians regarding the health care of childhood cancer survivors, including understanding of the primary cancer diagnosis, its associated therapies and late effects, and appropriate screening for these individuals.
This survey distributed to over 54,000 active members of the American Academy of Family Physicians examined the primary care physicians’ experiences and beliefs regarding long-term health issues and health care practice patterns of adolescent and young adult survivors of pediatric cancer (less than 21 years of age).
The majority of children and adolescents with cancer received follow-up care in a cancer center during their pediatric years. However, most received care from a primary care physician once they reach adulthood. The respondents' discomfort with caring for these patients was partially related to their lack of awareness regarding the published surveillance guidelines. Despite this inexperience, most family physicians (85%) stated they would be willing to care for survivors if they would be able to consult with a cancer center-based physician or survivorship program.
Family physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Nathan, P.C., Daugherty, C.K., Wroblewski, K.E. et al. J Cancer Surviv (2013) 7: 275.