Abstract
To elucidate the current status and challenges of information sharing and healthcare education for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs), we conducted an interview survey targeting representative physicians in charge of long-term follow-up (LTFU) clinics for CCSs at 11 childhood cancer centers. A qualitative descriptive analysis was adopted. The analysis extracted six categories of information sharing at LTFU: “insufficient patient education to keep them informed of the correct information from the early stages of the disease”, “an explanation of the disease along the psychosocial situation of CCSs”, “motivation to keep themselves interested in their health and continue to receive medical care”, “sharing the fact of their illnesses with supporters”, “multi-professional collaboration” and “difficulty in building relationships with other medical departments”. In the topic of patient education, three categories, “providing opportunities to lead a healthy lifestyle”, “support for regular follow-ups”, and “education to obtain the right knowledge to improve health management awareness”, were extracted. Two categories, “sympathetic approach to CCSs” and “policy on patient care”, were identified regarding the physician’s perception. In this study, the physicians recognized that proper appreciation and autonomous actions were essential to enhance CCSs’ health awareness. They also perceived the importance of encouraging regular follow-ups, active utilization of educational tools, and transition to adult departments and primary health clinics.
