Continued Attendance in Long-Term Follow-Up Care Among Childhood Cancer Survivors

While survival rates for childhood cancer have significantly improved, many survivors continue to experience late effects, making their health management a growing priority in survivorship care. To address these complications, systems for long-term follow-up care have been established; however, low attendance rates remain a concern, impeding the early detection and timely treatment of late effects. The objective of this qualitative descriptive study was to identify factors related to continued attendance in long-term follow-up care among childhood cancer survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 individuals aged between 20 and 39 years who had been diagnosed with childhood cancer and with a post-treatment period that has lasted more than five years. The data were analyzed using a content analysis method. Findings revealed that continued attendance was motivated by an understanding of the importance of early detection and a desire to reduce anxiety about potential late effects. In addition, the presence of a primary physician who served as an emotional anchor, as well as the desire to report on their growth and ability to lead a healthy social life, were also motivating factors for continued attendance. Furthermore, survivors had a heightened awareness of self-management and were motivated by a sense of appreciation toward their parents, who had supported their journey toward independence through continued follow-up care. Conversely, for some survivors, follow-up visits had become habitual and integrated into daily life, regardless of conscious intent.