Preliminary results from a comparative effectiveness study of breast cancer survivorship care: A University of California (UC) ATHENA Breast Health Network project.

Abstract

212 Background: The ATHENA Breast Health Network collaboration is a large scale, UC system-wide project initiated with the intent to drive innovation in breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment. An IRB approved research protocol was developed to examine survivorship care across Network sites, which includes key informant interviews at each site and patient/survivor surveys. This abstract presents preliminary analyses from the key informant interviews. Methods: Investigators at each site conducted semi-structured interviews with oncology specialists and primary care providers (PCPs). Interviews used case study examples and open and closed-ended questions on the delivery of post-treatment breast cancer care. Informant responses were manually recorded by the interviewer, compiled in a database, then coded and analyzed using NVIVO9 software. Results: There were 39 key informants across five participating UC sites: 14 medical oncologists, 7 radiation oncologists, 11 surgeons, 3 oncology nurses, and 4 PCPs. Care coordination is a major unprompted theme identified in the interviews. 85% of all participants reported using shared care coordination between PCP and oncology for post-treatment follow-up. 49% report the need for greater care coordination in general, and 28% report the need for greater care coordination within oncology, particularly to help avoid duplication of follow-up care and services. The responses demonstrate wide variability among provider types and institutions (Table). Additional analyses from this study will be updated in our presentation. Conclusions: These preliminary results identify the need for focus on care coordination during the post-treatment phase of breast cancer care within the UC system. [Table: see text]