Outcomes of Survivorship Care Plans in Pediatric Oncology: Does Health Literacy Matter?

Background

Health literacy is defined as the degree to which an individual can seek out, process, and understand basic health information to successfully navigate the healthcare system. Limited health literacy in adults is correlated with worse health outcomes for patients and their dependents. Pediatric cancer survivors and their parents represent a unique and vulnerable population. As childhood cancer survivors grow into adulthood, they must take control of their healthcare from their guardians and healthcare providers, understand and act upon their significantly increased risk for chronic aftereffects of cancer and treatments.

Project Goal

In their report from Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, the Institute of Medicine proposed that a cancer survivor be given a “survivorship care plan” (SCP). The SCP is a document that summarizes his or her cancer treatment and provides guidance on follow-up care. For parents of young cancer survivors and for teenage survivors who are transitioning into independent adults, the ability to understand and confidently use such a document over an extended period of time is vital.