Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Date of Award

5-2020

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Advisor(s)

Melissa A Valerio

Second Advisor

L Aubree Shay

Abstract

The adolescent and young adult (AYA) age group is the cohort of individuals who have been diagnosed with and/or are survivors of cancer. It is recommended they receive lifelong follow up care to prevent or mitigate late health effects associated with cancer and treatment. However, AYAs are caught between the pediatric and adult healthcare systems and they may not be able to fully advocate for their healthcare needs. Some factors that may be associated with AYAs survivorship care are treatment summaries and where they receive follow up care. This study aimed to identify if receipt of a treatment summary and if receipt of follow up care at a survivorship clinic are associated with positive patient centered communication (PCC). Participants were recruited from the Texas Cancer Registry and included adolescents aged between 15-18 living in Texas with a prior diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They were sent a survey pertaining to their cancer history, survivorship care plans, general health status, current medical care, patient centered communication, late effects from cancer treatment, patient-child relationship and demographics. A multiple regression analysis was used to identify if receipt of a treatment summary and receipt of follow up care at a survivorship clinic were associated with positive PCC. Receipt of a treatment summary was significant and associated with positive PCC (β=0.68; p=0.001); receipt of follow up care at a survivorship clinic was not significant and not associated with positive PCC (β=-0.065; p=0.787). The receipt of a treatment summary associated with positive PCC is consistent with other findings in similar studies.

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