Surviving cancer; What does it mean for you? An evaluation of a clinic based intervention for survivors of childhood cancer

Background: To evaluate a clinic based intervention designed to improve att itude to follow-up, increase self-efficacy or confidence to care for health , and raise awareness of possible vulnerability to future hearth issues amo ng survivors of childhood cancer. The intervention included an information booklet, treatment summary and separate information sheets, which were expl ained to survivors as part of routine follow-up care. Procedure: Survivors (n = 263; mean age = 21 years; > 5 years since diagnos is) attending one of seven United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UK CCSG) late-effects follow-up clinics completed questionnaires before and af ter the intervention. Outcome measures included self-ratings of importance of follow-up, readiness to change behaviour, self-efficacy, perceived vulne rability, and ratings of informativeness and emotional content of the writt en material. Results: Responders were more likely to be female than non-responders, held more positive views about the importance of follow-up and perceived themse lves to be more vulnerable to health risk. After the intervention, responde rs reported that they were more prepared to change their behaviour, had inc reased self-efficacy, but also perceived themselves to be more vulnerable t o future health problems. Conclusions: We conclude that the intervention is a relatively simple way t o enhance awareness among survivors about the importance of follow-up and n eed for vigilance in their healthcare. Difficulties in recruiting survivors who failed to attend are considered. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.