Abstract
BackgroundWith ongoing healthcare reform and shrinking numbers of oncologists, appropriate triaging of gynecologic cancer survivor care is crucial. Input from patients is a necessary part of this task. The objective of this study was to assess the preferences of gynecologic cancer survivors for surveillance after the completion of treatment.MethodsA 38-item questionnaire was developed and launched in conjunction with the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC). All women who registered as gynecologic cancer survivors with the FWC were invited to participate. Patients were asked about physician preferences for multiple symptoms and diagnoses, and when they felt comfortable transferring care out of their oncologists’ offices. Analyses were performed with chi-square and logistic regression.ResultsSix hundred twenty four patients completed the questionnaire. Sixty six percent had ovarian cancer, and 86% were primarily treated by a gynecologic oncologist. Fifty seven percent of the respondents reported being unwilling to see a physician other than their oncologist for survivorship care at any time. Women age > 60 years were less willing to leave their oncologists for survivorship care at any time compared to younger women (OR 1.53 [95% CI 1.03–2.27], p = 0.03). Ovarian cancer survivors were also more likely to report a desire to stay with their oncologists compared with uterine cancer survivors (p < 0.001). With few exceptions, respondents preferred management of non-oncologic medical problems by their oncologists.ConclusionsGynecologic cancer survivors prefer that their oncologists remain heavily involved in survivorship care. Reconciling patient needs with physician and financial constraints will be a challenge as the survivor population continues to grow.
Highlights
With ongoing healthcare reform and shrinking numbers of oncologists, appropriate triaging of gynecologic cancer survivor care is crucial
Gynecologic cancer survivors prefer that their oncologists remain heavily involved in survivorship care
Reconciling patient needs with physician and financial constraints will be a challenge as the survivor population continues to grow
Summary
With ongoing healthcare reform and shrinking numbers of oncologists, appropriate triaging of gynecologic cancer survivor care is crucial. The objective of this study was to assess the preferences of gynecologic cancer survivors for surveillance after the completion of treatment. With improvements in the treatment of these diseases, the number of cancer survivors will continue to grow. Meeting the challenges of this population, including the physical and psychosocial sequelae of cancer treatment, is well recognized. Four areas which have been advocated as part of survivorship care include. Studies have demonstrated that cancer survivors, PCPs, and oncologists all expect to be heavily involved in the survivorship phase of the cancer continuum after definitive treatment is completed [3]. A fundamental drawback of this research is that few gynecologic oncology patients and OB/GYNs are included, so the expectations
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