Health Care Transition Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults With Hereditary Cancer Predisposition: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with increased risk for cancer due to hereditary predisposition, previous cancer treatment, or both are eligible for increased surveillance, chemoprevention, and prophylactic surgery that can improve early detection and prevention of cancers. One way to ensure continuity of cancer prevention care is to support adolescents through the transition from pediatric to adult health care. Yet, there are limited data on the impl ementation of health care transition (HCT) programs for AYA with increased risk for cancer. We conducted a scoping review of the literature on transition programs for AYA at increased risk of cancer due to known germline risk or prior cancer diagnosis, with a focus on implementation factors relevant to designing, implementing, and sustaining a new program. Data from 54 articles were extracted and analyzed using the RE-AIM implementation science framework. Few HCT programs have been implemented for AYA with hereditary cancer syndromes. Several groups have done preimplementation work for future hereditary cancer programs, but programs for cancer survivors are farther along the translational spectrum. We identified implementation factors along the five RE-AIM dimensions to assist preimplementation planning for HCT programs for AYA with increased risk for cancer.