title: Adoption and cancer survivors: Findings from a learning activity for oncology nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the rate at which cancer survivors successfully adopt a child or about their experiences negotiating a costly, and perhaps discriminatory, process regarding the prospective parent's health history. The current study describes the results of a learning activity in which nurses contacted an adoption agency to learn more about the process for survivors with the goal of helping nurses provide patients with accurate information for making a well-informed decision regarding adoption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Training program participants identified an adoption agency (local, state, or international) and conducted an interview using a semistructured guide. After the interview, participants created a summary of responses to the questions. The authors examined responses to each question using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 77 participants (98% completion rate) across 15 states provided a summary. Responses were distributed across the following categories: adoption costs, steps required for survivors seeking adoption, challenges for survivors seeking adoption, birth parents' reservations, and planned institutional changes to increase adoption awareness. The majority of respondents reported improving their knowledge of adoption and cancer, increased challenges for survivors, and the need to educate patients concerning the realities of adoption policies. The need for a letter stating the survivor was 5 years cancer free was identified as a significant obstacle for survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses are charged with following practice guidelines that include recommendations for appropriate reproductive health referrals. Cancer survivors would benefit from a health care provider who can provide education and concrete information when patients are making a decision about fertility and adoption.
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.|Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zebrack
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sehovic
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Meghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes and Behavior Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.|Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Vadaparampil
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004506:Education, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009726:Nurses; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
keywords: adoption; cancer; nurses; oncology; survivor