First name
Christine
Middle name
E
Last name
Hill-Kayser

Title

Sociodemographics, Health Competence, and Transition Readiness Among Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

Year of Publication

2022

Number of Pages

Date Published

2022 Apr 28

ISSN Number

1465-735X

Abstract

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Fewer than one-third of childhood cancer survivors receive follow-up from an adult provider, and adolescent and young adults (AYAs) from structurally minoritized sociodemographic groups often face health disparities that can impact transition to adult-oriented care. The primary aim of this study was to determine the relation among sociodemographic factors, cumulative effects, and transition beliefs/expectations and goals, and the moderating role of health competence beliefs in AYA survivors of childhood cancer.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>A total of 195 AYAs (aged 15-29) reported sociodemographic information, completed the Transition Readiness Inventory assessing positive beliefs/expectations and goals related to transition, and completed the Health Competence Beliefs Inventory assessing health perceptions, healthcare satisfaction, cognitive competence, and autonomy. A cumulative sociodemographic factor variable was computed to investigate the potential additive effects of multiple sociodemographic factors associated with disparities. T-tests, Pearson correlations, and multivariate linear regressions were used.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Cumulative sociodemographic factors were not related to transition readiness, and insurance type was the only factor associated with health competence beliefs and transition readiness, such that AYAs with public insurance reported lower healthcare satisfaction, cognitive competence, and transition goals relative to those with private insurance. There were no interaction effects; however, health competence beliefs were significantly associated with transition beliefs/expectations and goals.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Public insurance is a barrier to holding positive beliefs/expectations and goals about transition, yet other sociodemographic factors associated with risks for poor transfer were not related to transition readiness. Multi-level interventions to reduce disparities and improve transition readiness should target health competence beliefs and barriers created by insurance.</p>

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsac039

Alternate Title

J Pediatr Psychol

PMID

35482609
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Title

Contextual Predictors of Engagement in a Tailored mHealth Intervention for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors.

Year of Publication

2021

Number of Pages

Date Published

2021 Mar 01

ISSN Number

1532-4796

Abstract

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Despite the promise of mobile health (mHealth), engagement is often too low for durable health behavior change, and little is known regarding why certain individuals abandon mHealth tools.</p>

<p><strong>PURPOSE: </strong>Guided by a mHealth engagement framework, we evaluated contextual predictors of objective engagement with an app for adolescents and young adults (AYA) who survived cancer.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>One hundred and ten AYA survivors (M age = 20.5, 43% female, 30% racial/ethnic minority) were randomized to receive a disease self-management app that delivered 1-2 tailored messages/day for 16 weeks, and contained a survivorship care plan (SCP). Demographic, disease, psychosocial, and setting characteristics were examined as predictors of three objective engagement outcomes: (a) % of active app days, (b) % of messages read, and (c) viewed SCP in the app versus not. A subsample (n = 10) completed qualitative interviews to further assess engagement barriers.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Self-reported uninterrupted app access (β = -0.56, p &lt; .001), iPhone (vs. Android) ownership (β = 0.30, p &lt; .001), and receiving the intervention in the summer (β = -0.20, p = .01) predicted more active days. Lower depressed mood (β = -0.30, p = .047) and uninterrupted app access (β = -0.50, p &lt; .001) predicted more messages read. Qualitatively, technical glitches and competing priorities were described as engagement barriers, whereas certain types of messages (e.g., health goal messages) were perceived as engaging. Among participants who had uninterrupted app access (n = 76), higher baseline motivation to change, better health perceptions, using the app during the summer, and iPhone ownership predicted higher engagement.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Findings demonstrate the importance of comprehensively assessing and planning for multi-level ecological determinants of mHealth engagement in future trials.</p>

<p><strong>CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: </strong>NCT03363711.</p>

DOI

10.1093/abm/kaab008

Alternate Title

Ann Behav Med

PMID

33674863
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Title

Association of Demographic and Cancer-Specific Factors on Health Behavior Recommendations Specific to Cancer Prevention and Control Among Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.

Year of Publication

2020

Number of Pages

Date Published

2020 Nov 18

ISSN Number

2156-535X

Abstract

<p>Adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer (AYA) are at risk for long-term health problems that are exacerbated by not meeting health behavior recommendations (e.g., exercise). To identify AYA at risk for not meeting health behavior recommendations, we explored demographic (e.g., age) and cancer-specific (e.g., intensity of treatment) factors associated with not meeting specific health behavior recommendations that have implications for cancer prevention and control. Regression (linear/binary) was used to examine demographic and cancer-specific associates regarding fruit/vegetable intake, binge drinking, sleep duration, sunscreen use, tobacco use, and physical activity among 307 AYA (M = 20.33, range = 15-34) across three combined studies, treated at a pediatric cancer center. Health behavior measures were adapted from The Health Behaviors Survey and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System questionnaire. AYA in general did not meet health behavior recommendations. Compared with AYA with public insurance, AYA with private insurance ( = -0.19,  &lt; 0.01) were more likely to meet multiple health behavior recommendations. AYA at greatest risk for not meeting specific health behaviors were more likely to be diagnosed in middle childhood (11.35) compared with early childhood (8.38), be closer to diagnosis (8.77 vs. 11.76) and closer to treatment completion (6.97 vs. 9.91), and have a solid tumor (32.7%) compared with a brain tumor (10.6%). Not meeting health behavior recommendations is common among AYA survivors of childhood cancer. Early education in the context of survivorship care is critical to provide teachable moments to AYA; such interventions might impact future long-term health and reduce risk for secondary cancers.</p>

DOI

10.1089/jayao.2020.0130

Alternate Title

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol

PMID

33211609
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Title

Musculoskeletal complications following total body irradiation in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Year of Publication

2018

Number of Pages

Date Published

2018 Apr

ISSN Number

1545-5017

Abstract

<p>Total body irradiation (TBI) is commonly used in conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to treat benign and malignant disease. Though life-saving, these therapies place patients at risk for important side effects, including musculoskeletal complications such as short stature, osteonecrosis, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and the development of benign and malignant bone tumors. With an increasing number of HSCT survivors, there is a growing need for awareness of the musculoskeletal complications of HSCT and TBI.</p>

DOI

10.1002/pbc.26905

Alternate Title

Pediatr Blood Cancer

PMID

29286549
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