First name
Lisa
Last name
Pierce

Title

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Pilot Tailored Text Messaging Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults Completing Cancer Treatment.

Year of Publication

2019

Date Published

2019 Nov 11

ISSN Number

1099-1611

Abstract

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>Despite cure, adolescents and young adults (AYA) who complete cancer treatment remain at risk for numerous physical and psychological late effects. However, engagement in recommended follow-up care, knowledge of cancer treatment history and risks, and adoption of health promoting behaviors are often suboptimal. The pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a text messaging intervention (THRIVE; Texting Health Resources to Inform, motiVate, and Engage) designed to promote well-being, and health knowledge and behaviors.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Sixty-one AYA who recently completed cancer therapy enrolled and were randomized to receive THRIVE (n=31) or an AYA survivor handbook (n=30). Participants from both groups completed baseline measures and follow-up surveys 16 weeks later. AYA randomized to THRIVE received 1-2 health-related text messages per day over 16 weeks.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>THRIVE demonstrated a high level of acceptability and feasibility. Exploratory analyses highlighted promising improvements in knowledge, fruit/vegetable intake, and perceptions of health vulnerability.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Text messaging is an acceptable and feasible intervention approach for improving well-being and health of AYA survivors. Future research is needed to test the impact of text messaging in a larger trial, including whether or not such an intervention can improve clinical outcomes, such as survivors' engagement in follow-up care.</p>

DOI

10.1002/pon.5287

Alternate Title

Psychooncology

PMID

31713265

Title

Caregiver distress and patient health-related quality of life: psychosocial screening during pediatric cancer treatment.

Year of Publication

2016

Date Published

2016 Jun 20

ISSN Number

1099-1611

Abstract

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Reports of acceptability of psychosocial screening are limited, and the utility of screening in identifying risk factors for health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children with cancer has not been established. This study aimed to assess acceptability of screening for parents and evaluate associations between family risk factors and patient HRQL in the first year post-diagnosis.</p>

<p><strong>PROCEDURE: </strong>Sixty-seven parents of children with cancer completed the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (family risk), Distress Thermometer (caregiver distress), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian 6 (caregiver traumatic stress), PedsQL 4.0 (parent-proxy report of patient HRQL) and four acceptability questions via a tablet (iPad).</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Patients (Mage = 9.5 SD = 5.5&nbsp;years) were equally distributed across major pediatric cancer diagnoses. The majority of parents endorsed electronic screening as acceptable (70%-97%). Patient gender, diagnosis, intensity of treatment and time since diagnosis were not significantly correlated with family risk, caregiver distress, traumatic stress, or patient HRQL. The full regression model predicting total HRQL was significant (R(2)  = .42, F(4,64) = 10.7, p = .000). Age (older) was a significant covariate, family risk and caregiver distress were significant independent predictors of poorer total HRQL. The full regression models for physical and psychosocial HRQL were significant; age and caregiver distress were independent predictors of physical HRQL, and age and family risk were independent predictors of psychosocial HRQL.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Screening is acceptable for families and important for identifying risk factors associated with poorer patient HRQL during childhood cancer treatment. Targeted interventions addressing family resource needs as well as parent distress identified through screening may be effective in promoting patient HRQL. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p>

DOI

10.1002/pon.4171

Alternate Title

Psychooncology

PMID

27321897

Title

Engagement and experience with cancer-related follow-up care among young adult survivors of childhood cancer after transfer to adult care.

Year of Publication

2016

Number of Pages

342-50

Date Published

2016 Apr

ISSN Number

1932-2267

Abstract

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>Young adult survivors (YAS) of childhood cancer require annual adult-focused, cancer-related follow-up given their risk for late effects of treatment. This study describes perception of and engagement with adult-focused, cancer-related follow-up care and general health care among YAS formally transferred to adult care from pediatric survivorship care.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>YAS transferred from pediatric survivorship care in the prior 1-5&nbsp;years completed measures indicating engagement with cancer-related follow-up care, other health care utilization, content of communication by providers, quality of cancer-related care, and satisfaction with health care in the prior year.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Eighty YAS (M age = 27.7&nbsp;years, M time since diagnosis = 10.4&nbsp;years) participated. Just over half of YAS surveyed (n = 44, 55&nbsp;%) endorsed continuing cancer-related follow-up care since transfer. Those with cancer-related follow-up endorsed seeing subspecialty survivorship providers (n = 16, 44&nbsp;%) and primary care providers (n = 22, 50&nbsp;%) or utilizing a shared care model (n = 6, 14&nbsp;%). About a third of YAS endorsed seeing subspecialists (n = 29, 36&nbsp;%) or using other support services (n = 22, 27&nbsp;%). YAS-perceived content of communication varied significantly depending on care model with less cancer-related content being discussed by primary care providers, though perceived quality of cancer-related care and satisfaction with health care was generally favorable.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>YAS report less than optimal engagement in cancer-related follow-up care and communication in their health care encounters.</p>

<p><strong>IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: </strong>Young adult survivors should receive anticipatory guidance about expectations for delivery and content of adult-focused cancer-related follow-up care.</p>

DOI

10.1007/s11764-015-0480-9

Alternate Title

J Cancer Surviv

PMID

26303367

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