College health as a partner in the care of pediatric cancer survivors

J Am Coll Health. 2014;62(7):506-10. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2014.917655.

Abstract

Objective: This study reviews an initiative to educate providers on pediatric cancer survivor care and to establish a cancer survivor registry in a college health center.

Participants: PARTICIPANTS were University of Georgia (UGA) college health providers.

Methods: Providers attended lectures on survivor care and were encouraged to register on Cancer SurvivorLink. Changes in provider familiarity and practice were measured using baseline and follow-up surveys. A survivor registry was created using health entrance forms and medical records abstraction.

Results: Twenty-four providers registered on SurvivorLink, and 16 completed both surveys. Familiarity with survivor care (p = .003) and a survivor health care plan (p = .016) increased. Likelihood to deliver survivor care increased (p = .01). UGA follows 95 survivors; 71 diagnosed at < 21 years. Among survivors diagnosed at < 21 years, 91% reported their diagnosis on entrance forms.

Conclusions: Through education and optimization of health informatics, college health centers can identify and provide survivor care to this medically vulnerable population.

Keywords: administration; clinical medicine; health education; mental health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Student Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Students*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Survivors*
  • Universities*
  • Young Adult