HEALTH-RELATED BEHAVIORS OF SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD-CANCER

The health-related beliefs and behaviors of long-term survivors of chi ldhood cancer are important because of vulnerability to adverse late e ffects from their primary malignancy and its therapy. A health behavio r survey was completed by 110 parents of longterm survivors ranging in age from 11-77 years, and by 40 adult long-term survivors of childhoo d cancer ranging in age from 18-29 years. The survey included question s on the former patient's frequency of alcohol and tobacco use, as wel l as diet, exercise, sleep, dental, and seatbelt habits. The reported prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use was less than 10% among those le ss than 18 years old. Among the adults, tobacco (17.5%) and alcohol (7 2.5%) use was greater, but problem drinking was infrequently reported. In order to assess their perceived vulnerability, we asked the parent s and the young adult patients to rate the strength of their belief th at it is more important for the patient to keep healthy compared to mo st other children or young adults. Contrary to our expectations, demog raphic factors such as the patient's gender, socioeconomic level, or t ime elapsed since completion of therapy exerted minimal influence on t heir responses. Over 80% of parents and 60% of young adult survivos be lieved that it was more important for the former patient to remain hea lthy compared to most other people. However, this shared belief in inc reased vulnerability was inconsistently expressed in the patient's hea lth behaviors. These results suggest that specific changes are needed in the health assessment and education of long-term survivors of child hood cancer. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.