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Evaluating a Transition Workbook for Childhood Cancer Survivors: a Pilot Study

Journal of Cancer Education (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Many childhood cancer survivors (CCS) could benefit from improved knowledge about their cancer diagnosis, the treatments received, and associated risks during the period when they transition into adult aftercare. Interventions that support the transition from pediatric to adult care have showed high patient satisfaction. We developed an educational workbook, “Life After the Janeway,” to support CCS transition into adult care. We evaluated its understandability, actionability, and overall acceptability, using an online survey based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Material (PEMAT-P). Ten participants completed the survey. The overall PEMAT-P score was 94.06 (SD ± 7.40). Mean scores for understandability and actionability were 92.83 (SD ± 8.79) and 98.15 (SD ± 5.24) respectively. Interrater reliability found strong agreement across survey items. Participants support efforts to improve transition and felt positive about the intervention. The workbook was shown to be understandable and actionable to likely users. The next steps will focus on delivering the workbook to CCS going through their transition of care and exploring developing the workbook in an electronic format.

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Availability of Data and Materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Research (Canada).

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada

    Devonne Ryan

  2. Discipline of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada

    Paul Moorehead & Roger Chafe

  3. Children’s and Women’s Health, Eastern Health, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Paul Moorehead

  4. Janeway Pediatric Research Unit, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Paul Moorehead & Roger Chafe

Authors
  1. Devonne Ryan
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  2. Paul Moorehead
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  3. Roger Chafe
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Contributions

D.R. modified the survey, assisted in the development of research design, and analysis. R.C. and P.M. assisted in the development of the research design and analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Devonne Ryan.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest or funding to disclose.

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Ryan, D., Moorehead, P. & Chafe, R. Evaluating a Transition Workbook for Childhood Cancer Survivors: a Pilot Study. J Canc Educ (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01850-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01850-x

Keywords

  • Health education
  • Cancer survivorship
  • Childhood cancer survivorship
  • Workbooks
  • Adolescents
  • Transition