Characteristics of childhood cancer survivors attending a specialized survivorship clinic in the Deep South

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Childhood cancer survivors carry a high burden of late-occurring treatment-related morbidity. Long-term risk-based anticipatory surveillance allows for early detection and management of complications. We sought to examine demographic, clinical, and social characteristics associated with survivorship clinic attendance at the Taking on Life after Cancer (TLC) Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Methods The cohort included 1122 TLC-eligible patients diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2016. The outcome of interest was ≥1 TLC visit. Univariable logistic regression modeling assessed cancer type, treatment era, age, sex, race/ethnicity, payer type, rural/urban residency, and distance from clinic. Significant variables (P<0.1) were retained in multivariable modeling. Results The median age at diagnosis was 7 years old (0–19); 47% were female, 69% non-Hispanic White, 25% African American; 45% leukemia or lymphoma, 53% solid or CNS tumor, 3% other. We found that among 1122 survivors eligible to attend a survivorship clinic in the Deep South, only 52% attended. Odds of attendance were lower among survivors diagnosed at an older age, those with cancers other than leukemia/lymphoma, those lacking private insurance, and those living farther from the clinic. Race/ethnicity and rurality were not associated with clinic attendance. Conclusion Just over half of eligible survivors attended survivorship clinic. Factors associated with non-attendance can be used to guide development of intervention strategies to ensure that childhood cancer survivors receive optimal long-term follow-up care. Implications for Cancer Survivors Measures of healthcare access (insurance status and distance to care) were identified as potential intervention targets to improve uptake of survivorship care.