Survey of Transitional Care Between Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology in Japan.

Abstract

Purpose: This study's aim was to determine the actual status of transitional care for patients with pediatric cancer (PPCs) in Japan by surveying obstetricians/gynecologists. Methods: A questionnaire survey on transitional medicine was conducted in the form of an online questionnaire at 579 major training facilities nationwide, which were registered with the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Results: While 40% of the facilities had received referrals for PPCs, only 13% provided transitional care specifically for PPCs. The most common problems with referrals were related to "insufficient explanation." In addition, at facilities with no experience treating PPCs, many respondents commented that they did not know how to follow the progression of the disease. Regarding the necessity of obstetrics/gynecology visits for PPCs, more than half of the respondents at facilities with experience treating PPCs answered that such visits were "necessary"; only 1% answered that they were "unnecessary." On the other hand, 37% of the facilities that had no experience treating PPCs answered that it was "necessary," whereas 4% answered that it was "unnecessary." Conclusions: This survey of the actual status of transitional care between pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology in Japan identified issues to be addressed for the spread of transitional care. The results suggest that, in the future, health care professionals need education to increase their knowledge, and that patient education that leads to patients' awareness of their own self-management is necessary.