Efficacy of the Survivor Health and Resilience Education (SHARE) Program to Improve Bone Health Behaviors Among Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of the Survivor Health and Resilience Education Program intervention-a manualized, behavioral intervention focusing on bone health behaviors among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Methods Participants were 75 teens aged 11-21 years, one or more years post-treatment, and currently cancer-free. Teens were randomized to a group-based intervention focusing on bone health or a wait-list control. Bone health behaviors were assessed at baseline and 1-month post-intervention. Results Controlling for baseline outcome measures and theoretical predictors, milk consumption frequency (p = 0.03), past month calcium supplementation (p < 0.001), days in the past month with calcium supplementation (p < 0.001), and dietary calcium intake (p = 0.04) were significantly greater at 1-month follow-up among intervention participants compared with control participants. Conclusions The intervention had a significant short-term impact on self-reported bone health behaviors among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Research examining long-term intervention effectiveness is warranted.