Design and methods of a multi-level intervention to improve adherence to childhood cancer survivorship care by partnering with primary care providers: The BRIDGES randomized controlled trial

Background

Despite heightened risk of chronic health conditions, <20 % of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) receive guideline-recommended surveillance for late effects. Barriers include avoidance of reminders, lack of knowledge, and costs. The goal of the BRIDGES Study is to evaluate the effects of a multi-level, remote intervention on adherence to guideline-recommended surveillance among CCS by partnering with primary care providers (PCPs).

Methods

This ongoing study is a multi-site, two-arm, prospective, parallel design, 1:1 randomized controlled non-inferiority trial (N = 240; n = 120/group). Eligibility criteria are: cancer diagnosis at age < 21 years, 2.0–4.0 years post-cancer therapy, and no previous specialty survivorship clinic care. The intervention includes: 1) patient survivorship education via telehealth with a cancer center nurse, including discussion of patient's individualized survivorship care plan (SCP), 2) ongoing patient-tailored health education within the electronic health record's patient portal, 3) a structured interactive phone call between the cancer center nurse and PCP, including discussion of patient's SCP, and 4) an in-person PCP visit for survivorship care. Patients randomized to the comparison group are contacted to schedule an in-person visit at their cancer center-based survivorship clinic. Adherence to guideline-recommended surveillance tests (primary outcome) is assessed at 1-year post-randomization (primary follow-up time point) and 2-years post-randomization (for durability). Patient knowledge, self-efficacy, and activation; PCP knowledge and self-efficacy; and process outcomes are also assessed.

Conclusion

Models of survivorship care that overcome existing barriers are needed. If efficacious, this scalable, remote intervention would be a valuable strategy to address barriers and bridge gaps in care to reach more CCS.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05448560.