Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer in the last decade has meant that many more children now survive the disease. Unfortunately, however, it has become increasingly apparent that both the treatment and the cancer itself can have long-term effects on health. Long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) is therefore vital. The Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) has set up a nationwide study called DCOG-LATER, which aims to identify which groups of CCS are most at risk of long-term health problems which will then form the basis of recommendations on later follow-up programmes. The study also involves research on accurate screening tests and effective treatments (interventions) that might be needed to reduce morbidity and mortality in CCS. In order for the DCOG-LATER study results to be meaningful, it is important that a representative group of CCS participate in the study. It is therefore vital to encourage as many CCS to participate as possible. Characteristics such as the age and gender of a potential participant and also what the study involves can influence whether or not they will agree to take part. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different invitation strategies on participation rates in a questionnaire survey among CCS. We also want to investigate reasons for non-participation, whether people prefer to complete a paper-based or web-based questionnaire and which groups of CCS (in terms of age, or gender) prefer each type of questionnaire.
Who can participate?
Adult CCS that were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 18 and between 1st January 1962 and 31st December 2001, alive 5 years after diagnosis and treated in one of the seven Dutch paediatric oncology and stem cell transplant centers. They also have to be currently living in the Netherlands.
What does the study involve?
Each participant is randomly allocated to one of three groups. All participants receive an initial invitation to take part in the study. For groups 1 and 2, two postal reminders and one telephone reminder are sent out. For group 3, only one postal reminder and one telephone reminder is sent. With each invitation, the CCS were given a web-based questionnaire. Paper-based questionnaires are also given at various timepoints depending on group. Group 3 receive the paper-based questionnaire as part of their initial invitation, group 2 as part of the first reminder and group 1 receive their paper-based questionnaire as part of their second reminder.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
Academic Medical Center (Netherlands)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2012 to June 2013
Who is funding the study?
1. The Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) (Netherlands)
2. The Children Cancerfree Foundation (KiKa) (Netherlands)
Who is the main contact?
Miss Monique Jaspers
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
131
Study information
Scientific title
An evaluation of response rates, questionnaire mode preferences and satisfaction of Dutch childhood cancer survivors invited for the DCOG LATER study
Acronym
Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) LATe Effects Registry (LATER) EPIdemiology (EPI)
Study hypothesis
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of different invitation strategies on participation rates in a questionnaire survey among childhood cancer survivors (CCS). In addition, we assessed reasons for non-participation, differences in participants questionnaire mode preferences and satisfaction with the different questionnaire modes.
Ethics approval
Medisch Ethisch Toetsingscommissie AMC, 27/04/2012, ref: W12_105
Study design
Multi-center randomized trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Childhood cancer survivors
Intervention
CCS from three centers were randomly allocated to one of three study arms on a 1:1:1 ratio. In study arms 1 and 2, two postal reminders and one telephone reminder followed the initial invitation; in the second reminder strategy (study arm 3), only one postal reminder and one telephone reminder followed the initial invitation. With every invitation, CCS received a web-based questionnaire. Paper-based questionnaires were added to the invitation at various time points depending on the study arm. CCS either received the paper-based questionnaire at the initial invitation (study arm 3), first reminder (study arm 2) or second reminder (study arm 1).
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
Participation rates assessed 1 year after the start of the study on 01/09/2013
Secondary outcome measures
1. Response rates assessed 1 year after the start of the study on 01/09/2013
2. Response type assessed 1 year after the start of the study on 01/09/2013
3. Satisfaction with questionnaire
4. Reasons for completing paper- or web-based questionnaire
Overall trial start date
01/12/2012
Overall trial end date
01/06/2013
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
We randomly selected 750 adult CCS from the DCOG LATER cohort, which includes subjects diagnosed with a malignancy (or a few specific benign disorders) before the age of 18 years between 1 January 1962 and 31 December 2001, alive 5 years post diagnosis, that were treated in one of the seven Dutch paediatric oncology and stem cell transplant centers. For the current study, CCS had to be alive, aged 18 or older and living in the Netherlands.
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
750
Participant exclusion criteria
CCS were excluded if they lived abroad or were lost-to-follow-up
Recruitment start date
01/12/2012
Recruitment end date
01/06/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Netherlands
Trial participating centre
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam
1105 AZ
Netherlands
Sponsor information
Organisation
Academic Medical Center (AMC) (Netherlands)
Sponsor details
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam
1105 AZ
Netherlands
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
The Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) (Netherlands)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
The Children Cancerfree Foundation (KiKa) (Netherlands)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary
2015 results in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28410161