A qualitative exploration of health perceptions and behaviors among adult survivors of childhood cancers.
BACKGROUND
Adult survivors of childhood cancer are a growing population. The objective of this study was to draw upon qualitative methods to learn more about survivors' perceived health risks and health behaviors.


METHODS
Three focus groups and nine individual interviews were conducted.


RESULTS
Participants' responses varied in meaning of survivor status, relatedness to other survivors, and health risk comparisons to non-survivors. Survivors expressed uncertainty about control over their health.


CONCLUSIONS
The identity, health perceptions, and behaviors of adult survivors of childhood cancer are complex. Health promotion programs for survivors should be tailored to individual health risk status and should include a physician-delivered component.
Park
Elyse B
EB
Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA. epark@partners.org
Emmons
Karen M
KM
Malloy
Neil W
NW
Seifer
Eugenie
E
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States