A systematic review of models of care for the follow‐up of childhood cancer survivors |
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| Authors: | Morag Heirs PhD MSc Sara Suekarran MSc Russell Slack MSc Kate Light PGDip Faith Gibson PhD MSc RGN Adam Glaser MBChB Mike Hawkins DPhil MSc Robert Phillips MBChB |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK;2. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and London South Bank University, London, UK;3. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK;4. Department of Public Health & Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, UK |
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| Abstract: | Follow‐up care for survivors of childhood cancer is increasingly seen as a priority service as numbers of survivors increase. Despite this there are few published evaluations of the available options. We conducted a systematic review of published and unpublished literature. Seven uncontrolled studies, and one comparative study of a related intervention, were identified. Observational data suggest that follow‐up care was useful even for patients who did not perceive this as a need. Suitably powered, well‐conducted, controlled trials of adequate duration that directly compare follow‐up models are required to provide robust evidence on the optimal care for these patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 351–356. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
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| Keywords: | cancer follow‐up health services evaluation health services research paediatric cancer systematic review survivorship |
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