Status and Needs for the Return to School of Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: As the treatment effects for childhood and adolescent cancer continue to improve, the survivor group is gradually growing and their age is increasing. This study aimed to determine the perceptions toward childhood and adolescent cancer survivors and assess the current situation regarding their return to school, to under-take policy development to help them grow into healthy members of society.Methods: From December 2019, for about 4 months, a structured questionnaire was used to conduct one-on-one interviews with childhood and adolescent cancer survi-vors and their parents, as well as with parents of healthy children and adolescents.Results: The participants included 79 survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer, 186 parents of cancer survivors, and 661 general parents; their mean age was 21.8, 13.9, and 12.5 years, respectively. After completing their cancer treatment, 77.2% of the cancer survivors returned to school, with the majority returning to regular schools in the same grade as their peers. Reasons for not returning to school (20.3%) included concerns about health management (43.8%), concerns about psychological and emo-tional adjustment (12.5%), and poor school attendance (12.5%). Among the parents of cancer survivors, 48.9% stated that they were “satisfied” with their children’s school life; a better health status in children was associated with a higher level of satisfaction (P=0.0071). In addition, they stated that national-level support was need-ed in the following areas for a successful return to school: a continuous health man-agement system (36.1%) and understanding homeroom teachers who enable flexible participation in classes and school events (29.5%).Conclusion: For survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer to successfully return to school and society, nationwide awareness-raising activities should be expanded, in addition to services that are tailored to the survivors’ needs and characteristics such as management of physical and mental health and educating homeroom teach-ers and peers.