Cancer Survivorship Care Plans Research Articles

Implementation of a survivorship clinic in a medically underserved comprehensive community cancer center.

54 Background: Historically, preparation of Survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) had been a cumbersome challenge that resulted in a limited number of plans delivered to eligible patients. In 2015, eleven breast SCPs were prepared and delivered by an RN. Upon review, it was determined the process of preparation and delivery of SCPs required refinement. Methods: Initially, we identified the barriers to our practice, which included limited knowledge, process, personnel, and software interfacing. We implemented a quality improvement project with the goal of delivery of SCPs to an increased number of cancer survivor patients. The project targeted staff education to identify eligible patient populations, create awareness of the Commission on Cancer accreditation requirements, and the knowledge necessary to create a SCP. We coordinated with the information technology department to attempt interfacing software programs, track the delivery of plans, and use provider notes to export data. We increased communication between departments to identify eligible patient populations. A nurse practitioner was assigned the responsibility for preparation and delivery of the document during a scheduled appointment, which focused on review and education in relation to the patient’s diagnosis, treatment plan, sequelae and recommended surveillance. Results: Through close coordination of interdisciplinary teams, we were able to implement strategies to develop a streamlined process to create and deliver SCPs. These interventions resulted in the Survivorship Clinic going from 11 breast cancer SCPs delivered in 2015 to 98 and counting, of all types of cancer, delivered in 2016. Patients requested follow up visits to the Survivorship clinic. Conclusions: We have successfully developed a Survivorship Clinic within a federally designated medically underserved community setting. Implementation of best practices resulted in nine-fold increase in delivery of SCPs. Most importantly, we have increased patient education and satisfaction. Our practices can be replicated by other programs and thereby curb the disparity of cancer survivorship care in rural areas.

Cancer survivorship care plans: Processes, effective strategies, and challenges in a Northern Plains rural state.

Health systems face resource and time barriers to developing and implementing cancer survivorship care plans (SCPs) when active cancer treatment is completed. To address this problem, the South Dakota (SD) Department of Health partnered with two of SD's largest health systems to create the SD Survivorship Program. The purpose of this program evaluation study was to describe and compare SCP development and implementation at the two health systems. A descriptive qualitative design was used. Interview participants were instrumental in the development and implementation of SCPs within their respective health system. Content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. The two health systems used similar processes for (a) early designation of program personnel, (b) developing SCP templates, (c) provider/staff input, and (d) identifying/tracking eligible patients. In contrast, they developed differing processes for SCP completion and delivery. The two health systems also identified effective strategies and challenges in SCP development and implementation. This evaluation suggests that partnerships between state health departments and local health systems could be key for meeting the nation-wide goal of universal SCP implementation. Particularly, other low-population rural states like SD can use the findings to help build their SCP programs.

Usability and acceptance evaluation of ACESO: a Web-based breast cancer survivorship tool.

The specific objective of this research is to design and develop a personalized Web application to support breast cancer survivors after treatment, as they deal with post-treatment challenges, such as comorbidities and side effects of treatment. A mixed-methods approach, utilizing a combination of think-aloud analysis, personal interviews, and surveys, was adopted for user acceptance and usability testing among a group of breast cancer survivors. User feedback was gathered on their perceived value of the application, and any user-interface issues that may hinder the overall usability were identified. The application's portability and capability of organizing their entire breast cancer-related medical history as well as tracking various quality of life indicators were perceived to be valuable features. The application had an overall high usability; however, certain sections of the application were not as intuitive to locate. Visual elements of the website were appreciated; however, overall experience would benefit from incorporating more sociable elements that exhibit positive re-enforcement within the end user and provide a friendlier experience. The results of the study showcase the need for more personalized tools and resources to support survivors in self-management. It also demonstrates the ability to integrate breast cancer survivorship care plans from diverse providers and paves the way to add further value-added features in consumer health applications, such as personal decision support. Using a personal decision support-based tool can serve as a training tool and resource, providing these patients with pertinent information about the various aspects of their long-term health, while educating them about any related side effects and symptoms. It is hoped that making such tools more accessible could help in engaging survivors to play an active role in managing their health and encourage shared decision-making with their providers.

Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Metabolic Syndrome, Sarcopenic Obesity, and Circulating Biomarkers in Overweight or Obese Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer recurrence in survivors of breast cancer. This randomized controlled trial assessed the effects of a 16-week combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention on metabolic syndrome, sarcopenic obesity, and serum biomarkers among ethnically diverse, sedentary, overweight, or obese survivors of breast cancer. Methods Eligible survivors of breast cancer (N = 100) were randomly assigned to exercise (n = 50) or usual care (n = 50). The exercise group participated in supervised moderate-to-vigorous-65% to 85% of heart rate maximum-aerobic and resistance exercise three times per week for 16 weeks. Metabolic syndrome z-score (primary outcome), sarcopenic obesity, and serum biomarkers were measured at baseline, postintervention (4 months), and 3-month follow-up (exercise only). Results Participants were age 53 ± 10.4 years, 46% were obese, and 74% were ethnic minorities. Adherence to the intervention was 95%, and postintervention assessments were available in 91% of participants. Postintervention metabolic syndrome z-score was significantly improved in exercise versus usual care (between-group difference, -4.4; 95% CI, -5.9 to -2.7; P < .001). Sarcopenic obesity (appendicular skeletal mass index, P = .001; body mass index, P = .001) and circulating biomarkers, including insulin ( P = .002), IGF-1 ( P = .001), leptin ( P = .001), and adiponectin ( P = .001), were significantly improved postintervention compared with usual care. At 3-month follow-up, all metabolic syndrome variables remained significantly improved compared with baseline in the exercise group ( P < .01). Conclusion Combined resistance and aerobic exercise effectively attenuated metabolic syndrome, sarcopenic obesity, and relevant biomarkers in an ethnically diverse sample of sedentary, overweight, or obese survivors of breast cancer. Our findings suggest a targeted exercise prescription for improving metabolic syndrome in survivors of breast cancer and support the incorporation of supervised clinical exercise programs into breast cancer treatment and survivorship care plans.

Community-identified recommendations to enhance cancer survivorship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Indigenous Australians diagnosed with cancer experience higher mortality and lower survival rates compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Reasons are multifaceted and complex. Knowledge about Indigenous cancer survivors' perspectives of positive cancer survivorship is a gap in research evidence. The study explored cancer survivorship perspectives of Indigenous cancer survivors, their support people and healthcare workers with a view to developing recommendations for cancer survivorship. Indigenous Australians who completed cancer treatment in the previous 6 months to 5 years, their support people and primary healthcare workers were recruited from primary healthcare centres and a large tertiary Queensland hospital. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with written and informed consent obtained prior. Participants emphasised key action areas and recommendations to enhance cancer survivorship, namely: establishing a community cancer advocate and peer support program, availability and use of a cancer-specific Indigenous primary healthcare worker and hospital-based Indigenous patient navigator, as well as adoption of question prompt lists and cancer survivorship care plans. Existing research suggests significant benefits from implementing the key recommendations identified in this study. Greater support and commitment across health sectors and funding bodies is needed to promote institutional change and health system development.

Cancer Survivorship Care Plan Utilization and Impact on Clinical Decision-Making at Point-of-Care Visits with Primary Care: Results from an Engineering, Primary Care, and Oncology Collaborative for Survivorship Health.

Every cancer survivor and his/her primary care provider should receive an individualized survivorship care plan (SCP) following curative treatment. Little is known regarding point-of-care utilization at primary care visits. We assessed SCP utilization in the clinical context of primary care visits. Primary care physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) who had seen survivors following provision of an SCP were identified. Eligible primary care physicians and APPs were sent an online survey, evaluating SCP utilization and influence on decision-making at the point-of-care, accompanied by copies of the survivor's SCP and the clinic note. Eighty-eight primary care physicians and APPs were surveyed November 2016, with 40 (45%) responding. Most respondents (60%) reported discussing cancer or related issues during the visit. Information needed included treatment (66%) and follow-up visits, and the cancer team was responsible for (58%) vs primary care (58%). Respondents acquired this information by asking the patient (79%), checking oncology notes (75%), the SCP (17%), or online resources (8%). Barriers to SCP use included being unaware of the SCP (73%), difficulty locating it (30%), and finding needed information faster via another mechanism (15%). Despite largely not using the SCP for the visit (90%), most respondents (61%) believed one would be quite or very helpful for future visits. Most primary care visits included discussion of cancer or cancer-related issues. SCPs may provide the information necessary to deliver optimal survivor care but efforts are needed to reduce barriers and design SCPs for primary care use.

The Impact of a Primary Care Education Program Regarding Cancer Survivorship Care Plans: Results from an Engineering, Primary Care, and Oncology Collaborative for Survivorship Health.

Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been recommended as tools to improve care coordination and outcomes for cancer survivors. SCPs are increasingly being provided to survivors and their primary care providers. However, most primary care providers remain unaware of SCPs, limiting their potential benefit. Best practices for educating primary care providers regarding SCP existence and content are needed. We developed an education program to inform primary care providers of the existence, content, and potential uses for SCPs. The education program consisted of a 15-min presentation highlighting SCP basics presented at mandatory primary care faculty meetings. An anonymous survey was electronically administered via email (n=287 addresses) to evaluate experience with and basic knowledge of SCPs pre- and post-education. A total of 101 primary care advanced practice providers (APPs) and physicians (35% response rate) completed the baseline survey with only 23% reporting prior receipt of a SCP. Only 9% could identify the SCP location within the electronic health record (EHR). Following the education program, primary care physicians and APPs demonstrated a significant improvement in SCP knowledge, including improvement in their ability to locate one within the EHR (9 vs 59%, p<0.0001). A brief educational program containing information about SCP existence, content, and location in the EHR increased primary care physician and APP knowledge in these areas, which are prerequisites for using SCP in clinical practice.

Optimizing endometrial cancer follow-up and survivorship care for rural and other underserved women: Patient and provider perspectives

ObjectivesThis study describes patient and provider attitudes on transitioning cancer surveillance visits and treatment of comorbid conditions to the primary care setting in a rural patient population as a strategy for minimizing financial and travel related barriers for patients while simultaneously enhancing quality and availability of health care options. MethodsFocus group discussions and telephone interviews were conducted with endometrial cancer (EC) survivors and primary care providers (PCPs) to provide insights into post-treatment follow-up practices and the acceptability of transitioning follow-up to primary care setting utilizing a cancer survivorship care plan model. ResultsEC survivors expressed high levels of satisfaction with their oncology care and suggested that transitioning to PCPs for follow-up care would be convenient yet challenging. Challenges cited include: 1) patient perceptions of deficits in PCP's understandings of cancer surveillance; 2) inability to identify a personal PCP; and 3) lack of communication between oncologists and PCPs. PCP participants similarly identified the need for extensive EC training and effective communication strategies with oncologists as necessary factors for accepting responsibility for EC follow-up care. Both groups offered strategies to create a more team based approach to EC survivorship care. ConclusionsIncreasing the role of the PCP in the ongoing care of EC survivors was generally considered acceptable by both patients and providers in both rural and urban women. Successful coordination of care between cancer survivors, oncologists and PCPs will be a critical step in improving the cancer care delivery of our rural patient and provider population.

Abstract PD4-05: Survivorship care planning is associated with breast cancer survivors' reported quality and coordination of care

Abstract Primary goals of cancer survivorship care planning (SCP) include the assessment of ongoing risks for late effects and the coordination of health care. SCP strives to improve communication and coordination between survivors, health-care, and supportive care providers. Results on the effectiveness of SCP have been mixed. We report on the relationship between self-reported indicators of care with two essential elements of SCP: receipt of a written treatment summary and written instructions for routine cancer check-ups. Methods: The Greater Plains Collaborative Clinical Data Research Network conducted the Share Thoughts on Breast Cancer survey across 8 cancer-care delivery sites across the Midwest. Participants were women age 18 years and older who had completed treatment for noninvasive or invasive (but not metastatic) breast cancer diagnosed from 1/1/2013 to 5/1/2014. Women were excluded if diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ, had previously been diagnosed with cancer per tumor registry records, did not report having cancer-directed surgery, or did not respond to questions about survivorship care planning. Logistic regression was used to examine characteristics and outcomes associated with a three-category SCP summary variable: (a) received both a written treatment summary and instructions for follow-up care; (b) received only one of these elements; or (c) received neither element. Adjustment variables included age at diagnosis, race, marital status at diagnosis, education, history of smoking, number of comorbidities, self-report that one health professional coordinated cancer care, type of surgery, and treatment with chemotherapy, radiation or hormones, and practice site. Results: Of the 1148 survivors meeting study criteria, 485 (42.2%), 420 (36.6%), and 243 (21.2%) reporting receiving both SCP elements, one element, or no element, respectively. Several factors were associated with receiving elements of SCP: Those who reported having a single health professional who coordinated their cancer care were twice as likely to receive both elements of the SCP vs neither element (OR=2.3; 95% CI 1.6-3.2). Of patients who received both SCP elements, 88% reported excellent/very good quality of care compared to 73% who received neither element (p = .001). Respondents who reported always knowing who to ask questions about their cancer were far more likely to have received both elements vs neither element (OR=10.1; 95% CI 5.2-19.4). No association was observed between SCP and cancer care delivery site. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors who reported receiving a written summary of treatment and instructions for follow-up care reported better quality of cancer care, and they were also more confident about how to find answers to cancer related questions. Survivors who receive SCP were also more likely to have a single health professional coordinating their cancer care, potentially illustrating how SCP may fit into overall care processes. Citation Format: McDowell BD, Klemp J, Blaes A, Cohee AA, Trentham-Dietz A, Kamaraju S, Otte JL, Rock JL, Rubenstein L, Chrischilles EA. Survivorship care planning is associated with breast cancer survivors' reported quality and coordination of care [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD4-05.

A primary care education program regarding cancer survivorship care plans at the University of Wisconsin (UW).

69 Background: Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been recommended as a tool to improve cancer patients’ (pts) care coordination and outcomes. The UW routinely provides SCPs. However, a prior project indicated most PCPs were unaware of these SCPs, limiting SCPs potential benefits. Best methods for educating PCPs regarding SCP existence and content are needed. We developed an educational program to inform PCPs of SCP existence, content, and potential uses. Methods: The program - a 10 minute presentation with slides - was developed to make PCPs aware of the basics of SCPs as listed above. The program was presented at UW general internal medicine (GIM) and family medicine (FM) scheduled meetings and emailed to UW PCPs afterwards. Two anonymous online surveys were administered to evaluate PCP previous use and basic knowledge of SCPs. Baseline surveys were sent 1 week prior to the first presentation and a follow-up survey was sent 4 weeks later via UW GIM and FM listservs (n = 286 addresses). Results: 101 PCPs completed the baseline survey: 27% reported not knowing what SCPs were; 50% knew but reported never receiving one; 23% reported having received one. 66 PCPs that attended or reviewed the program completed the follow-up survey. 40 “matched” PCPs completed both surveys. See Table 1 for results. Conclusions: A brief educational program containing information about existence of, content, and location in electronic medical record (EMR) increased PCP knowledge in these areas, which are prerequisites for PCP use. Ongoing work will assess whether PCP review of SCPs at point of care influences clinical decision making. [Table: see text]

Piloting breast cancer survivorship care planning in a safety net hospital.

65 Background: Survivorship care plans (SCPs) include treatment summaries and follow-up care recommendations intended to improve patient care and well-being after cancer treatment. Limited research has yielded mixed results regarding SCPs' impact on patient and system outcomes, but emphasized provider burden as an implementation barrier. We created a patient-centered SCP template and implemented its delivery at a safety net hospital that serves primarily racial/ethnic minority patients. Methods: In a single-arm feasibility study, oncologists and advanced practice nurses used the template to deliver SCPs to post-treatment breast cancer survivors (BCS) in consultation visits. We assessed changes in patient-reported outcomes from baseline (pre-SCP) to a 3-month follow-up, as well as provider time burden. Results: Female BCS participants (n = 75; mean age = 58.5 years) were primarily African-American (73%) and had high school/GED education or less (61%). Average time since diagnosis was 3.7 years (SD = 3.8); all received surgery; most received radiation (84%), hormone (77%), and/or chemotherapy treatment (73%). At follow-up, a majority rated their SCPs as good to excellent (92%), easy or very easy to understand (84%), a good to excellent summary of their treatment (92%) and as motivation for healthy lifestyles (88%). BCS follow-up scores improved significantly from baseline on breast cancer knowledge (p = .02), self-efficacy (p = .03), the QLQ-INFO25 (p &lt; .01), and the FACIT TS-PS satisfaction with health care staff communication subscale (p &lt; .01). No significant differences between baseline and follow-up scores (p &lt; .05) were found for overall treatment satisfaction, health behaviors, and health-related quality of life. Preparing and delivering SCPs took providers considerable time (M = 54 &amp; 22 minutes, respectively). Conclusions: This pilot study is limited by a single-arm design, but results suggest that SCPs may be related to improved survivor knowledge, information, self-efficacy and communication with health care staff. The individualized, comprehensive SCPs were well received by BCS in a safety net hospital but delivery was time-intensive. These findings will inform future research trials and clinical care initiatives.

Survivorship care plans: Processes, effective strategies, and challenges in a rural state.

47 Background: Annually, South Dakota (SD) averages nearly 4,000 new cancer cases with over 40,000 cancer survivors residing in the state. While the cancer incidence and survivorship rates in SD may be similar to the rest of the nation, SD’s unique geographic and demographic landscape offers challenges in cancer survivorship care. The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate the development and implementation of cancer survivorship care plans (SCP) at three health systems in the rural state of SD. Each of these health systems is unique in its history, culture, and infrastructure. Collectively, they serve most cancer patients living in SD. Methods: An observational qualitative design was used. Key players at each health system were interviewed using a structured interview. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The authors synthesized the transcriptions with member-checking completed for each system. Results: Processes for development and implementation of SCPs similar across health systems were (a) gathering a leadership team or making a designated staff role for survivorship care, (b) developing a SCP template(s), (c) provider/staff in-put and endorsement, and (d) tracking and identifying patients for scheduling and receipt. On the other hand, the health systems approached SCP completion and delivery differently. For example, at one health system multiple individuals from the patient’s care team were responsible for SCP population and completion. Effective strategies across health systems comprised incorporating prior SCP work, open communication, and standardization of SCPs with flexibility in implementation. Challenges included incompatibilities of electronic health record platforms for automatic SCP template population and adequate staffing for the complexities of enacting SCPs. Key findings suggest a process framework is beneficial for the development and implementation of SCPs. Conclusions: As health systems consider developing and implementing SCPs, consideration of the following recommendations for a process framework may be helpful: building a foundation, gathering resources, reviewing the evidence, eliciting input, and implementing in stages.

Development of phase-specific breast cancer survivorship care plans (SCPs).

61 Background: There are nearly 3 million breast cancer (BC) survivors in the US. Among the recently diagnosed, accrediting organizations (e.g., Commission on Cancer) now require SCPs at the completion of curative therapy. Within the Oncology Care Model, the preparation and delivery of SCPs is recognized as one of the 13 quality metrics. SCPs, combining treatment summaries (TS) and follow-up care plans (FUCPs), assist patients and providers in the delivery of high quality long-term care. BC presents a unique challenge, as the risk of recurrence extends decades past initial treatment; adjuvant risk reduction may extend up to 15 years. Periodic FUCPs provide a mechanism to review updated information and may allow providers to catch up with longer term BC survivors whose care was delivered prior to SCPs. We explored the role of phase-specific SCPs within the heterogeneous BC survivor population. Methods: Oncologists and nurse practitioners (NPs) from the Breast Health and Survivorship Programs at Tufts MC, an academic medical center in Boston, and New England Cancer Specialists, a community-based private oncology practice in Maine--together caring for more than 2,000 BC survivors--convened to develop and test phase-specific survivorship tools. Using an adapted ASCO template for BC, TS were completed at the end of initial therapy by trained NPs. FUCPs for initial, 5-year, and 10-year visits were designed with clinical input, literature reviews, and existing guidelines. Results: FUCPs were pilot tested and refined before incorporation into the electronic health record. Further testing is planned to identify barriers to effective survivorship care, particularly involving documentation of changes in recommendations and the transition from oncologist to primary care physician. Conclusions: SCPs are critical for providing quality health care to BC survivors, but a single SCP, written at the conclusion of curative treatment, might not be sufficient to address changing needs of individuals as they progress through survivorship. Thus, phase-specific SCPs enable providers to focus on salient aspects of care that may change over time. Despite growing recognition of the value of SCPs, implementation remains a challenge across cancer programs.

Growing a cancer survivorship care plan program.

58 Background: More than 15.5 million cancer survivors live in the United States. This number is expected to be over 20 million by 2026. Cancer survivors have increased risk of morbidity; therefore, preventive and on-going medical treatment requires close monitoring and coordination. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2005 report, Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, recommended health providers raise awareness of cancer survivors’ needs and establish cancer survivorship as a distinct phase of care. The IOM also recommended patients who complete primary treatment are provided a comprehensive summary and plan that is effectively explained. A survivorship care plan maps out and improves care related to accessibility of past diagnosis and treatment history, surveillance guidelines, and potential long term side effects. In 2012, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) added Standard 3.3 Survivorship Care Planto the program standards. This met the IOM’s objective of addressing potential patients that get “lost” as they transition from care they received during treatment through phases of their life or disease. Methods: The Cancer Committee within a CoC certified organization developed multiple strategies to address the IOM and CoC standards. Strategies included a process to disseminate a comprehensive care summary for cancer patients who are completing primary treatment, adoption of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Treatment Summary and Survivorship Care Plan template, and adding a survivorship nurse navigator to the interprofessional treatment team. The survivorship nurse navigator monitors and reviews survivorship care plans with patients, advises when to seek treatment for symptoms, discusses surveillance guidelines, navigates patients through therapies, and educates on prevention and screening. Results: Evaluation for quality of life and compliance with individualized surveillance guidelines is ongoing. Conclusions: The oncology nurse navigator role is uniquely positioned to lead care coordination and improve outcomes through the continuum of care. Providing patients with a summary of their treatment and a plan moving forward may decrease stress related to the transition from active treatment to survivorship.

Using Implementation Science to Examine the Impact of Cancer Survivorship Care Plans.

Using Implementation Science to Examine the Impact of Cancer Survivorship Care Plans.

Using Survivorship Care Plans to Enhance Communication and Cancer Care Coordination: Results of a Pilot Study

To compare a structured cancer survivorship care plan (SCP) transition visit versus an SCP transition visit coupled with a coordinated follow-up visit from the primary care provider (PCP). . Pilot randomized, controlled study. . REX Cancer Hospital, a community cancer center in Raleigh, North Carolina. . 34 adults completing treatment with curative intent. . Patients and PCPs completed measures at baseline and at six weeks. Wilcoxon signed rank and rank sum tests were used for comparisons of SCP only versus SCP with PCP follow-up visit, as well as between high- and low-activated patients. . Confidence in survivorship information and survivor concerns. . The intervention was feasible and acceptable to patients and their PCPs. All patients (N = 34) had less contradictory information about care after SCP receipt. PCPs reported improved confidence in patients, regardless of intervention arm. Highly activated or empowered patients benefited more and had increased confidence and fewer concerns about cancer care. . The SCP interventions led to increased confidence in survivorship information, but some benefits were greater for highly activated patients. PCPs also had improved confidence in survivorship care after SCP receipt, whether or not they saw the patient in follow-up. A larger study is needed to further explore these findings and the changes over time. . Nurses can be instrumental in facilitating the development and delivery of SCP to survivors and PCPs.

Digitizing the cancer care continuum: Electronic, shareable survivorship care plans.

10101Background: Cancer survivorship care planning was recognized as critical in a seminal 2005 Institute of Medicine report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor. Recently, the Commission on Can...

Survivorship care planning in a comprehensive cancer center using an implementation framework.

Cancer survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been recommended to improve clinical care and patient outcomes. Research is needed to establish their efficacy and identify best practices. Starting in 2015, centers accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer must deliver SCPs to patients completing primary cancer treatment with curative intent. We describe how we established routine SCP delivery at the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chicago, Illinois, using the Quality Implementation Framework. We evaluated local practices, gathered clinician and patient stakeholder input, developed customized SCP templates within the electronic health record (EHR), and implemented 2 complementary delivery models. Clinician interviews (n = 41) and survey responses (n = 12), along with input from patients (n = 68) and a patient advisory board (n = 15), indicated support for SCPs and survivorship services. To promote feasible implementation and leverage existing workflows, we harmonized 2 SCP delivery models: integrated care within clinics where patients received treatment, and referral to a centralized survivorship clinic. We are implementing SCP delivery with prominent disease sites and will extend services to survivors of other cancers in the future. We developed four electronic disease-specific SCP templates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers and a fifth, generic template that can be used for other malignancies. The templates reduced free-text clinician entry by auto-populating 20% of the fields from existing EHR data, and using drop-down menus for another 65%. Mean SCP completion time is 12 minutes (range, 10-15; n = 64). We designed our framework to facilitate ongoing evaluation of implementation and quality improvement. Funding/sponsorship Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Coleman Foundation, and the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation.

Younger People Shy Away From Cancer Survivorship Care Plans

Younger People Shy Away From Cancer Survivorship Care Plans

Points of view regarding survivorship care plans by gynecologists involved in out-of-hospital breast cancer follow-up

The Cancer Survivorship Care Plans (SCP) aim to organize the post-cancer care and to give a new prominence to out-of-hospital health professionals. The structured follow-up (FU) based on a determined schedule is able to help professionals to comply with good practices and women to be regularly followed. Nowadays, the implementation of the SCP has been of limited scale and generally SCP are conceived without the inputs of non-hospital physicians. No assessment has been yet performed. Based on our more than 10 years experience of breast cancer patients FU in the network Gynecomed, we consider that the SCP improve the monitoring after cancer if a real cooperation has been set up between hospital and out-of-hospital physicians. This implies a co-construction FU process, a shared protocol, a mutual training process, a recall procedure, an information system between in and out hospital professionals allowing to discuss individual cases.