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Physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of childhood cancer survivors: a mailed survey of pediatric oncologists.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE Little is known about physicians' attitudes and knowledge regarding the health care needs of childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We sought to obtain pediatric cancer physicians' self-reported attitudes and knowledge regarding this population. METHODS A mailed survey was sent to 1,159 pediatric oncologists in the United States. Results A total of 655 surveys were returned (ie, 57% response rate). Median age of respondents was 47 years (range, 31 to 82 years); 57% were men. Respondents practiced for a median 14 years (range, 1 to 50 years) and reported seeing a median of 21 patients per week (range, 0 to 250 patients per week). When comfort levels in caring for CCS were described (ie, 1 = very uncomfortable; 7 = very comfortable), respondents were most comfortable with survivors < or = 21 years (mean +/- standard deviation, 6.2 +/- 1.3 level), were less comfortable (5.0 +/- 1.5 level) with those older than 21 years but less than 30 years old, and were uncomfortable with CCS > or = 30 years (2.9 +/- 1.7 level). In response to a clinical vignette of a 29-year-old woman treated with mantle radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma at 16 years of age, and on the basis of available guidelines, 34% of respondents did not appropriately recommend yearly breast cancer surveillance; 43% of respondents did not appropriately recommend cardiac surveillance; and 24% of respondents did not appropriately recommend yearly thyroid surveillance. Those with greater self-reported familiarity with available long-term follow-up (LTFU) guidelines (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.54) and with receipt of training in the care of CCS (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.52) were more likely to have answered all three questions correctly. CONCLUSION Pediatric oncologists express a range of preferences with regard to LTFU of CCS. Many appear unfamiliar with LTFU surveillance guidelines.

SUBMITTER: Henderson TO

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3040043 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of childhood cancer survivors: a mailed survey of pediatric oncologists.

Henderson Tara O TO Hlubocky Fay J FJ Wroblewski Kristen E KE Diller Lisa L Daugherty Christopher K CK

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 20091228 5

PURPOSE Little is known about physicians' attitudes and knowledge regarding the health care needs of childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We sought to obtain pediatric cancer physicians' self-reported attitudes and knowledge regarding this population. METHODS A mailed survey was sent to 1,159 pediatric oncologists in the United States. Results A total of 655 surveys were returned (ie, 57% response rate). Median age of respondents was 47 years (range, 31 to 82 years); 57% were men. Respondents pract ...[more]

PMID: 20038717

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Project description:Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV; formerly Henoch Schonlein Purpura) is the most common form of childhood vasculitis. It can occur in any age and peaks around 4-6 years old. It demonstrates seasonal variation implicating a role for environmental triggers and geographical variation. The diagnosis is made clinically and 95% of patients will present with a rash, together with any from a triad of other systems-gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and renal. Most cases of IgAV in children have an excellent outcome. Treatment may be required during the acute phase for gastrointestinal involvement and renal involvement, termed IgAV nephritis (previously HSP nephritis), is the most serious long-term manifestation accounting for ~1-2% of all childhood end stage kidney disease (ESKD). It therefore requires a period of renal monitoring conducted for 6-12 months. Patients presenting with nephrotic and/or nephritic syndrome or whom develop significant persistent proteinuria should undergo a renal biopsy to evaluate the extent of renal inflammation and there are now international consensus guidelines that outline the indications for when to do this. At present there is no evidence to support the use of medications at the outset in all patients to prevent subsequent renal inflammation. Consensus management guidelines suggest using oral corticosteroids for milder disease, oral, or intravenous corticosteroids plus azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide for moderate disease and intravenous corticosteroids with cyclophosphamide for severe disease. Angiotensin system inhibitors act as adjunctive treatment for persisting proteinuria and frequently relapsing disease may necessitate the use of immunosuppressant agents. Renal outcomes in this disease have remained static over time and progress may be hindered due to many reasons, including the lack of reliable disease biomarkers and an absence of core outcome measures allowing for accurate comparison between studies. This review article summarizes the current evidence supporting the management of this condition highlighting recent findings and areas of unmet need. In order to improve the long term outcomes in this condition international research collaboration is urgently required.

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Physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of childhood cancer survivors: a mailed survey of pediatric oncologists.

Publications

Physician preferences and knowledge gaps regarding the care of childhood cancer survivors: a mailed survey of pediatric oncologists.

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