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A systematic review of models of care for the follow‐up of childhood cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Heirs Morag,
Suekarran Sara,
Slack Russell,
Light Kate,
Gibson Faith,
Glaser Adam,
Hawkins Mike,
Phillips Robert
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.24253
Subject(s) - medicine , observational study , childhood cancer , systematic review , blood cancer , cancer , intervention (counseling) , duration (music) , meta analysis , medline , intensive care medicine , family medicine , pediatrics , nursing , art , literature , political science , law
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 We conducted a systematic review of published and unpublished literature.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.