#117 : Survey of Transitional Care in Patients with Pediatric Cancer

Background and Aims: Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors often require a long period of follow-up, carrying health risks even after overcoming cancer, and it is desirable for them to shift departments as they grow physically. In this study, we aimed to survey obstetricians and gynecologists about the actual situation regarding transitional care for patients with pediatric cancer (PPCs) in Japan. Method: We conducted a questionnaire survey on transitional care from January 2021 to March 2022, targeting 579 training facilities registered with the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This work was supported by MHLW Research for Promotion of Cancer Control Program Grant No. JPMH20EA1004. Results: The total response rate was 58.5%. When asked “if they provide transitional care specifically for PPCs between pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology”, only 13% responded that they do. Forty percent had received referrals for PPCs. The most common reasons for referral were “irregular menstruation or irregular genital bleeding” and “suspected ovarian dysfunction”. The most common problems with referrals from pediatrics were related to “insufficient explanation” in many cases. In addition, at facilities with no experience in treating PPCs, many respondents commented that they didn’t know how to follow up on the progress of the disease. When asked “about the necessity of obstetrics/gynecology visits for PPCs”, more than half of the facilities with experience in treating PPCs answered that such visits were “necessary”, and only 1% answered that they were “unnecessary”. On the other hand, 37% of the facilities that had no experience in treating PPCs answered that it was “necessary”, and 4% answered that it was “unnecessary”. Conclusion: The results suggest that what needs to be done in the future is to educate healthcare professionals by providing them with knowledge, as well as patient education that leads to patients’ awareness of their own self-management.