Health Knowledge in Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors at High Risk for Therapy-Related Cardiotoxicity.

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors' (CCS) knowledge about late effects can promote positive health behaviors and autonomy. Cardiotoxicity is a major source of morbidity, which can be mitigated through exercise. Descriptive and Fisher's exact statistics were used to characterize health knowledge and physical activity in CCS ≥13 years at high risk for cardiotoxicity. Of 16 CCS (mean age 17.0 ± 2.1 years), 3 (18.8%) identified previous anthracycline exposure, and 5 (31.2%) had adequate physical activity. Of survivors <18 years, 82% had poor late effects knowledge (p = 0.005). Knowledge was not associated with physical activity (p = 0.60). Interventions are needed to improve late effects knowledge in adolescent CCS.