AccScience Publishing / EJMO / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/EJMO025340355
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Survivorship passport as a new clinical paradigm in pediatric oncology: An exploratory observational study

Federico Ruta1† Sipontina Rita Zerulo2† Roberta Di Matteo3 Sabrina Cannone4 Francesca Dal Mas5,6 Paolo Ferrara7 Tatiana Bolgeo3 Mauro Parozzi8* Giovanni Cangelosi9* Stefano Mancin10 Alice Masini11† Gabriele Caggianelli12†
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1 Department of Administrative, Local Health Authority (ASL) Barletta–Andria–Trani, Italy
2 Department of Emergency, University Hospital “Policlinico Foggia,” Foggia, Italy
3 Department of Research and Innovation, Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo University Hospital, Alessandria, Italy
4 Department of Geriatrics, Health Care Residence, Minervino Murge, Andria, Italy
5 Venice School of Management, University of Venice, Venice, Italy
6 Collegium Medicum, SAN University, Lodz, Poland
7 School of Nursing, San Paolo Teaching Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
8 Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
9 Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, School of Pharmaceutical and Health Product Sciences, University of Camerino, Camerino, Macerata, Italy
10 Department of Biomedical Sciences, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
11 Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
12 Department of Healthcare Professions, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
Received: 19 August 2025 | Revised: 18 October 2025 | Accepted: 1 November 2025 | Published online: 12 December 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

Introduction: Advances in pediatric oncology have increased survival rates of patients. To support the long-term care of these survivors, the Survivorship Passport (SurPass) provides a personalized, portable summary of their diagnosis, treatments, and potential sequelae.

Objective: This study investigates the correlation between SurPass use and long-term knowledge gains among survivors, as measured by its impact on the accuracy of treatment recall and awareness of potential long-term effects.

Methods: This observational study included long-term survivors classified into two arms: Those with SurPass (Arm A) and those without (Arm B). A structured questionnaire assessed recall of diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and awareness of late effects. Responses were scored for accuracy, and between-group comparisons were performed.

Results: Survivors with SurPass, who are typically followed up in specialized centers, demonstrated markedly higher recall accuracy than those without it. Correct recollection of radiotherapy and chemotherapy was higher in Arm A by 64% (p=0.05) and 48% (p=0.03), respectively. Awareness of late effects and adherence to structured follow-up were also greater within Arm A. The SurPass mitigated the expected decline in recall accuracy over time, particularly for survivors treated at younger ages.

Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that SurPass may support patient engagement and continuity of care in survivorship settings; however, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these exploratory findings.

Keywords
Pediatric oncology
Cancer survivors
Survivorship passport
Exploratory observational study
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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Eurasian Journal of Medicine and Oncology, Electronic ISSN: 2587-196X Print ISSN: 2587-2400, Published by AccScience Publishing