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Evaluation of a Survivorship Educational Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

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Abstract

Educational programs to address specific needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors are scarce. A quarterly speaker series and 1-day conference involved presentations by oncology experts to increase knowledge of AYA cancer survivorship issues and awareness of community programs and resources. Pre- and post-evaluations were administered to determine the program's efficacy. Most rated program satisfaction as “moderately high” to “high” and having met expectations. Self-report ratings indicated a significant increase in perceived knowledge of survivorship topics and resource awareness for AYA childhood cancer survivors and caregivers. Nearly one third attended more than one presentation, indicating that the educational program was beneficial to them. This program was effective in increasing self-reported survivorship education for AYA survivors of childhood cancer, families, and health care providers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Lance Armstrong Foundation for funding this survivorship education program. We also would like to thank the co-directors of this project, Paula Thompson, MSW and Jill Wiench, CCLS, along with the Children's Hospital's Next Steps Survivorship Clinic Team and the Young Adult Oncology Group who helped to make this project successful. We appreciate the assistance from Children's Hospital's Public Relations, Penny Gutekunst, Director of Children's Hospital Foundation, Joan Reik, MPPA, Program Director of Grant Development of the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the statistical consultation provided by Raymond Hoffmann, PhD and Mahua Dasgupta, MS of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Quantitative Health Sciences. Finally, we would like to thank the childhood cancer survivors, caregivers, health care providers, and presenters for participating in this educational program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    Kristin Bingen & Mary Jo Kupst

Authors
  1. Kristin Bingen
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  2. Mary Jo Kupst
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristin Bingen.

Additional information

This study was supported by a 2-year community program grant by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

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Bingen, K., Kupst, M.J. Evaluation of a Survivorship Educational Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. J Canc Educ 25, 530–537 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0077-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0077-y

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