What type of study is this?

This is a Quantitative Study study.

October 9, 2025

Understanding communication and healthcare utilization patterns among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer: Results from the Health Information National Trends Survey.

HWHongjin WuMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center GJGhislaine JumonvilleCornell University MBMelissa BeaucheminNew York University

Key Points

Younger cancer survivors report higher healthcare utilization compared to older survivors, indicating significant differences.
Discrimination experiences were notably higher among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx survivors, suggesting systemic issues.
Patient-centered communication scores were significantly lower for Hispanic/Latinx survivors compared to others, pointing to real inequities.
Findings indicate a need for targeted interventions to address gaps in communication and care experiences among AYA cancer survivors.

Abstract

520 Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer face challenges transitioning from active cancer treatment to survivorship. Communication barriers with healthcare providers may contribute to these challenges and lead to fragmented care, but to date, this has not been studied in a national context. To address this gap, we evaluated patient-centered communication (PCC) and healthcare utilization patterns among survivors of AYA cancer. Methods: We analyzed Health Information National Trends Survey data from 6 cycles (2017–2024). Eligible respondents were diagnosed with cancer between ages 15–39. Our outcomes included number of healthcare visits in the prior 12 months, the validated PCC scale (range 0-100, 100=excellent), treatment experiences, and satisfaction with care. Predictor variables included socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Associations were determined using two-sided Chi-squared and t-tests. Statistical significance was set at p10 healthcare visits (25%) compared to those 41–60 years (14%) and >60 years (12%), p10 healthcare visits compared to NHW (13%) and H/L (15%). Overall, H/L reported lower mean PCC scores (mean=68, SD=24) compared to NHW (mean=75, SD=22) and NHB (mean=81, SD=23). NHW respondents (62%) were more likely to communicate electronically with providers than NHB (41%) and H/L (57%), p<0.01. Care satisfaction was lowest among AYAs identifying as other race/ethnicity (75%) vs. NHW (87%); NHB (84%); H/L (81%), p=0.01. Discrimination and unfair treatment were higher among NHB (37%) and H/L (28%) survivors compared to NHW (3%), p<0.01. Conclusions: Younger survivors report significantly higher healthcare utilization compared to older survivors, while NHB and H/L survivors experience more discrimination compared to NHW survivors. H/L survivors report worse PCC compared to others. Our findings highlight national inequities in communication, healthcare utilization, and treatment experiences among survivors of AYA cancer, revealing opportunities for targeted interventions.

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