Perspectives and practices regarding colorectal cancer survivorship care: Online survey results from oncology nurses in Thailand.

Abstract

Limited research has highlighted disparities in survivorship care in low- and middle-income countries. However, such care for colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors remains unexplored, especially in Thailand. This study examined Thai oncology nurses' perceptions of responsibility, confidence levels, and frequency of survivorship care practice for CRC survivors and identified factors impeding such care. A cross-sectional study utilizing an online survey approach was conducted between October and November 2020. Thai oncology nurses (N=155) completed the survey's demographic questionnaire, 29-item survivorship care scale, and 16-item impeding factor scale. Oncology nurses had high levels of perceived responsibility (mean=73.37, SD=12.12) and confidence (mean=65.09, SD=14.89) for providing CRC survivorship care. However, they reported less frequency of practice (mean=47.60, SD=21.03), especially concerning sexual, fertility, employment, and financial issues. Nurses with higher education had significantly higher responsibility perceptions, confidence levels, and frequency of practice (all p<.05). Also, nurses with specialty training in cancer care reported higher frequency of practice (p=.013). Common factors impeding survivorship care were lack of physical facilities (60.4%), knowledge/skills (57.4%), and educational resources for family members (52.3%) and survivors (51.6%). This study revealed inconsistencies between oncology nurses' responsibility perceptions, confidence levels, and frequency of survivorship care practice. The results can guide nurse researchers, educators, leaders, and policymakers in enhancing the quality of CRC survivorship care in low- and middle-income countries such as Thailand. Future efforts should focus on developing educational resources and training programs for survivorship care for oncology nurses and addressing factors impeding such care during healthcare service planning.