Currently submitted to: JMIR Cancer
Date Submitted: Aug 12, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Aug 12, 2026 - Oct 7, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Spread Your Wings: Evaluating a Video-Based Knowledge Mobilization Strategy to Support the Transition From Pediatric to Adult Care Among Childhood Cancer Survivors
ABSTRACT
Background:
Although survival rates for pediatric cancers have significantly improved over recent decades, the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare remains a critical and frequently under-addressed phase of survivorship. Many young survivors experience emotional distress and discontinuity in follow-up care, largely due to insufficient preparation and support during this vulnerable period.
Objective:
This project aims to evaluate the dissemination and impact of short-form digital storytelling content specifically designed to support survivors through this transition.
Methods:
We hypothesized that survivor-led digital storytelling would generate meaningful public engagement when strategically distributed across social media platforms. Within a participatory research framework, four young adult cancer survivors were recruited through Leucan, a large pediatric cancer community organization, to share their personal experiences and advice regarding the transition to adult healthcare. Their narratives were collaboratively edited into a four-video series addressing the significance of transition, challenges encountered, and practical advice for peers navigating similar experiences. This project focuses on the strategic dissemination of this content across Instagram and YouTube using targeted hashtags, bilingual subtitles, and tailored engagement strategies to maximize reach and accessibility. Both quantitative and qualitative engagement data were collected and analyzed. Quantitative metrics included views, likes, shares, and comments while qualitative analysis of public comments was planned where available.
Results:
By analyzing audience reception of survivor-led digital storytelling, this project evaluates the reach and depth of online engagement with these videos.
Conclusions:
Findings highlight the potential of social media as a knowledge mobilization tool for enhancing access to survivorship resources, fostering peer connection, and informing future interventions in pediatric cancer survivorship care.
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Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.