Childhood Cancer Survivor Utilization and Barriers to Primary Care Providers

Due to advances in research and treatment there is a growing population of childhood cancer survivors. While the survival rate is a very positive growing trend, it is important for survivors to monitor their health on an ongoing bases as a majority of the survivors will develop at least one long-term side effect from treatment.  The incidence of late effects increases with age and  often are not clinically apparent until decades after cancer treatment. The need for continuity and blending of oncology and primary care is imperative. The Childhood Cancer Survivor Utilization and Barriers to Primary Care Providers study will explore with childhood cancer survivors, bone marrow transplant survivors, oncology providers, and primary care providers the survivors' frequency of visits to primary care doctors, nature of visits and perceived barriers to primary medical care for this unique population. The outcome will be the building blocks for an intervention study to foster care that is patient-centered, coordinated within and across oncology and primary care teams, to enrich the long-term quality of care for childhood cancer survivors.