Designing a survivorship and supportive care center at a comprehensive cancer center.

Abstract

159 Background: Unmet physical, psychosocial, and other support needs of cancer survivors may lead to increased distress, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. Survivorship Clinics may be tailored for specific issues identified through a needs assessment. Methods: An invitation to complete a web-based survey was mailed to 35,420 active patients at a comprehensive cancer center in November 2015. The survey domains included demographics, cancer history, comorbidities, lifestyle, cancer prevention, spiritual and emotional support, symptom management, and interest in specific services. Results: 1,054 surveys were completed. The majority of respondents were female (55.2%; n = 582/1054), had Stage I cancer at diagnosis (43.9%; n = 360/820), and had completed treatment (69.0%; n = 727/1054). Genitourinary (23.0%; n = 238/1034) and breast (20.5%; n = 212/1034) were the most common cancer types among the respondents. Participants identified an average of 4.60 side effects experienced during or after treatment (n = 804); the most common were fatigue (64.5%), pain (37.3%), weight change (33.4%), sleep disturbance (30.2%), and gastrointestinal problems (29.4%). One third of participants reported having a physical side effect that caused anxiety and emotional distress (33.3%; n = 331/995), in particular, sexual function (69.7%; n = 136/195) and cognitive dysfunction (43.6%; n = 85/195). A total of 23.9% of participants had financial concerns due to costs of cancer treatment (n = 238/955). Participants were interested in integrative therapies, most notably yoga (75.1%; n = 289/385), acupuncture (72.4%; n = 155/214), aerobics (62.3%; n = 240/385), Swedish massage (60.5%; n = 225/372), aromatherapy (60.2%; n = 224/372), and homeopathy (55.1%; n = 118/214). Most respondents endorsed wanting information on nutrition (81.5%; n = 380/466). Conclusions: Cancer survivors report vast physical and psychosocial needs during and after cancer treatment, and they have a high interest in nutrition education and integrative therapies. Improved care coordination from a dedicated cancer survivorship and supportive care clinic at a comprehensive cancer center may specifically address survivors’ issues.