Abstract
Public health agencies have played a critical role in addressing the complex health and mental health needs of cancer survivors. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation via a Web-based survey (n = 51) and focus groups (n = 11) with National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) recipients and interviews (n = 9) with survivors, health care providers (HCPs), and patient navigators to explore these audiences’ cancer survivorship information needs and strategies to improve resource dissemination. Participants revealed a need for tailored resources and support for survivors on healthy lifestyle, post-treatment survivorship concerns, psychosocial health, and navigating the health system. HCP needs included education on survivorship care plans and care coordination to facilitate the transition between oncology and primary care. HCPs were survivors’ most trusted source for information; however, participants noted difficulties engaging HCPs in survivorship care. These findings can help public health practitioners focus their efforts to better meet the needs of cancer survivors and their HCPs.
Highlights
There were more than 16 million cancer survivors in the United States in 2018 [1]
Our analysis for this paper focuses on identifying the ongoing survivorship information and resource needs of survivors and their caregivers, health care providers (HCPs), and National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP), as well as strategies to improve the reach and dissemination of survivorship resources
Of the 65 NCCCP program directors (PDs) who received the online survey, 51 completed it (78% response rate, which was above our goal of 70%)
Summary
There were more than 16 million cancer survivors in the United States in 2018 [1]. That number is expected to increase, given an aging population and advancements in the early detection and treatment of cancer [2–4]. Advancements in medical care have drastically improved cancer survival rates, cancer survivors face worse physical and mental health-related quality of life outcomes and a greater risk for additional cancer diagnoses compared with adults without cancer [3,5,6]. Many survivors experience long-term physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and financial challenges after active cancer treatment ends [3,4,7]. Changes to lifestyle factors such as maintaining a healthy weight, adding regular physical activity, tobacco cessation, and routine follow-up and preventive care are all evidence-based strategies that can improve survivors’ quality of life, reduce risk of cancer recurrence, and increase survival [3,8]
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