Survivorship Care Plans Research Articles

“Scanxiety” and a sense of control: the perspective of lung cancer survivors and their caregivers on follow-up - a qualitative study

ObjectivesLung cancer survivors often suffer from physical, emotional and social long-term effects of disease and treatment. Caregivers are also affected by the cancer diagnosis throughout the course of the disease and are frequently burdened by high levels of psychosocial stress. However, little is known about how follow-up care after the completed treatment phase can help to improve long-term quality of life. In the context of patient-centred cancer care, considering the survivors’ and caregivers’ perspectives is an important step toward improving care structures. We therefore explored how lung cancer survivors and their caregivers experience follow-up examinations and their possible psychosocial effects on everyday life in order to shed light on what support is helpful for improving their quality of life.Material and Methods25 survivors after curative lung cancer treatment and 17 caregivers underwent a face-to-face semi-structured, audio-recorded interview that was analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsEspecially burdened cancer survivors and caregivers described recurring anxiety before a follow-up appointment influencing their everyday life. At the same time, follow-up care also provided reassurance of still being healthy and helped regain a sense of security and control until the following scan. Despite possible long-term consequences in everyday life, the interviewees reported that the survivors´ psychosocial needs were not explicitly assessed or discussed. Nevertheless, the interviewees indicated that conversations with the physician were important for the success of “good” follow-up care.ConclusionAnxiety surrounding follow-up scans, also known as “scanxiety”, is a common problem. In this study, we expanded on previous findings and found a positive aspect of scans, namely regaining a sense of security and control, which can strengthen the psychological well-being of the survivors and their families. To optimize follow-up care and improve the quality of life of lung cancer survivors and caregivers, strategies to integrate psychosocial care, like the introduction of survivorship care plans or increased use of patient-reported outcomes, should be explored in the future.

Adherence with surveillance schedule in patients with invasive melanoma

BackgroundSeven percent of patients develop melanoma recurrence after successful treatment, and 4–8% develop a second primary melanoma. This study aimed to assess how providing Survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) to patients may improve adherence to surveillance visits. MethodsAll patients treated for invasive melanoma at our institution between 8/1/2018-2/29/2020 were included in this retrospective chart review. SCPs were delivered in-person to patients and sent to primary care providers and dermatologists. Logistic regression was performed to assess influences on adherence. ResultsOf 142 patients, 73 (51.4%) received SCP regarding their follow-up care. Reception of SCP (p = 0.044) and shorter distance from clinic (p = 0.018) significantly improved rates of adherence. Seven patients developed melanoma recurrences, five were physician-detected. Three patients had primary site recurrence, six had lymph node recurrences, and three had distant recurrences. There were 5 second primaries, all physician-detected. ConclusionOur study is the first to investigate the impact of SCPs on patient adherence in melanoma survivors and the first to reveal a positive correlation between SCPs and adherence in any type of cancer. Melanoma survivors require close clinical follow-up, as demonstrated by our study finding that even with SCPs, most recurrences and all new primary melanomas were physician-detected.

Healthcare experiences of people with advanced colorectal cancer: A qualitative study.

Qualitative research examining healthcare experiences and needs of people with advanced (metastatic or recurrent) colorectal cancer CRC-A is limited. This study aimed to fill this gap in CRC-A survivors treated with surgical or palliative chemotherapy, through a qualitative study. Australian adults treated for CRC-A were recruited 0.5-2 years post-surgery or post-diagnosis of CRC-A (for palliative chemotherapy groups). Semi-structured telephone interviews, analysed via framework analysis, explored healthcare experiences. Demographic, clinical, and quality of life data characterised the sample and informed framework analyses. Data was compared against the Institute of Medicine's framework for quality healthcare. Interviews from 38 participants (22 female) of median age 59 years (range 27-84) revealed six overarching themes relating to the safety, effectiveness, timeliness, patient-centredness, efficiency, and equity of CRC-A care: 1) Early experiences influence later perceptions; 2) Trusting the system, trusting the professionals; 3) The benefits of multidisciplinary care co-ordination; 4) Feeling lost in follow-up; 5) Whose role is it anyway? Gaps in responsibility for survivorship care; and 6) Useful or useless? Perceptions of psychosocial support. Healthcare systems for CRC-A can be improved through delivery of repeated information, upskilling general practitioners and/or implementing written survivorship care plans or survivorship clinics, to ensure quality healthcare.

Oncological healthcare providers’ perspectives on appropriate melanoma survivorship care: a qualitative focus group study

BackgroundThe increasing group of melanoma survivors reports multiple unmet needs regarding survivorship care (SSC). To optimise melanoma SSC, it is crucial to take into account the perspectives of oncological healthcare providers (HCPs) in addition to those of patients. The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of HCPs’ perspectives on appropriate melanoma SSC.MethodsFour online focus groups were conducted with mixed samples of oncological HCPs (dermatologists, surgeons, oncologists, oncological nurse practitioners, support counsellors and general practitioners) (total n = 23). A topic guide was used to structure the discussions, focusing on perspectives on both SSC and survivorship care plans (SCPs). All focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to an elaborate thematic content analysis.ResultsRegarding SSC, HCPs considered the current offer minimal and stressed the need for broader personalised SSC from diagnosis onwards. Although hardly anyone was familiar with SCPs, they perceived various potential benefits of SCPs, such as an increase in the patients’ self-management and providing HCPs with an up-to-date overview of the patient’s situation. Perceived preconditions for successful implementation included adequate personalisation, integration in the electronic health record and ensuring adequate funding to activate and provide timely updates.ConclusionsAccording to HCPs there is considerable room for improvement in terms of melanoma SSC. SCPs can assist in offering personalised and broader i.e., including psychosocial SSC. Aside from personalisation, efforts should be focused on SCPs' integration in clinical practice, and their long-term maintenance.

Effects of Self-Administered Acupressure on Fatigue Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Fatigue is a common symptom after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may persist for weeks or years. However, nonpharmacological management strategies for fatigue alleviations are almost nonexistent; thus, effective fatigue management programs are needed urgently. We aimed to evaluate the effects of self-administered acupressure programs on post-TBI fatigue and heart rate variability and identify the possible correlation between the improvements in fatigue symptoms and the changes in heart rate variability. This randomized controlled trial included 2-point acupressure (TPA; n = 27), 5-point acupressure (FPA; n = 27), and usual care (UC, control; n = 27) groups who underwent several assessments before and after the study intervention. Heart rate variability was evaluated at baseline, weeks 2 and 3, and treatment completion. The TPA and FPA groups self-administered acupressure (3 minutes per acupoint; bilateral), thrice daily for 4 weeks, whereas the UC group received routine treatment without acupressure. Both the TPA and FPA groups exhibited substantial improvements in fatigue symptoms compared with the baseline findings in the UC group. In addition, the TPA and FPA groups exhibited increased high-frequency power and mean number of times per hour in which the changes in successive normal sinus intervals (RR) gradually exceeded 50 ms (pNN50). Changes in high-frequency power and pNN50 were correlated with improvements in post-TBI fatigue symptoms. Acupressure may alleviate chronic fatigue and enhance parasympathetic activity in TBI survivors. The enhancement of parasympathetic activity may be correlated with improvements in post-TBI fatigue symptoms. Healthcare providers should incorporate self-administered acupressure into the care plans for TBI survivors to improve their fatigue symptoms.

Next Steps: Survivor Healthcare Passport - A Novel Form of Survivorship Care Plan in the Pediatric Population.

Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been instrumental in aiding transition from cancer treatment to survivorship care, which contains the diagnosis, treatment, potential late effects, and recommended follow-up. There has been paucity of research on its efficacy and lack of guidelines on development and delivery of SCPs. The Next Steps Survivorship Clinic at Children's Wisconsin uses a Survivorship Healthcare Passport (SHP), a SCP pocket-sized card. This study aims to improve understanding of patient and parent use of the SHP at a single institution. An electronic survey was distributed to cancer survivors (14 to 28y old) and parents/guardians who received the SCP. Data was analyzed with descriptive and correlation statistics. Older survivors were reliable in carrying their SHP, and endorsed greater confidence in understanding its contents leading to a notion of improved ability to coordinate care. Younger survivors tend to rely on their parents. A preference for a smartphone application as another platform was noted. This form of SCP has shown to benefit older survivors which directly impacts the notion of efficacy in care coordination. Providing easy-to-access information may encourage survivors to advocate for their health and to facilitate transition of care.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Long-Term Survivors of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma

The overall survival in patients with transplantation-eligible multiple myeloma has tripled over the past 2 decades, leading to a growing population of myeloma survivors. However, there is a paucity of data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), distress, and health behaviors in long-term myeloma survivors who are in stable remission after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT). In this cross-sectional study using data from 2 randomized controlled trials of survivorship care plans and internet-based self-management intervention in transplantation survivors, the primary objective was to measure HRQoL (using the Short Form-12, version 2.0 [SF-12 v2]), distress (using the Cancer- and Treatment-Related Distress [CTXD] instrument), and health behaviors of myeloma survivors in stable remission after AHCT. A total of 345 patients at a median of 4 years (range, 1.4 to 11 years) post-AHCT were included. The mean SF-12 v2 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was 45.5 ± 10.5, and the mean Mental Component Summary (MCS) score was 51.3 ± 10.1, compared with US population norms of 50 ± 10 for both (P < .001 and P=.021 for PCS and MCS comparisons, respectively). Notably, neither reached the threshold for a minimal clinically important difference. Approximately one-third of the patients had clinically significant distress based on the CTXD total score, with distress reported by 53% of the patients in the Health Burden domain, by 46% in the Uncertainty domain, by 33% in the Finances domain, by 31% in the Family Strain domain, by 21% in the Identity domain, and by 15% in the Medical Demands domain. Preventive care guidelines were adhered to by 81% of the myeloma survivors; however, adherence to exercise and diet guidelines were relatively low, at 33% and 13%, respectively. Myeloma AHCT survivors in stable remission have no clinically meaningful worsening in physical functioning compared with the general population. Survivorship programs should address ongoing distress due to health burden, uncertainty, and finances in myeloma survivors, along with evidence-based targeted interventions for modifiable health behaviors, such as nutrition and exercise.

Abstract P6-05-24: Implementing System Solutions for Survivorship Care Plans

Abstract Background: A survivorship care plan (SCP) is a detailed cancer care summary and future care plan that is generally given to a patient upon completion of adjuvant treatment for a cancer diagnosis. The initial goals of SCPs were to educate patients and other health care professionals about the treatments received, make them aware about potential long-term effects of therapy, and emphasize recommendations for future cancer screening and care (1). Due to numerous barriers—scheduling, staffing, and lack of awareness—SCPs are not delivered to all eligible patients. To address this unmet need our multidisciplinary breast clinic (MDBC) established an Advanced Practice Professional (APP) Survivorship Clinic. With the acute impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, survivorship referrals decreased. We, therefore, developed and implemented system solutions to address SCP access. Methods: System solutions include partnering with the Cancer Registry to provide the list of patients potentially in need of survivorship visits, partnering with pharmacy to confirm patient eligibility, creating specifically designated telemedicine survivorship visits in our electronic scheduling system, prospectively scheduling persons identified, engagement of APPs across the MDBC, and establishing a single coordinating point. Numbers of SCPs delivered are tracked monthly and patient satisfaction is assessed through data collected Press Ganey surveys. Results: This presentation will share our process interventions and outcomes as they mature. Our early data demonstrate the efficacy of the workflow and appear promising. Conclusion: We anticipate that system-based solutions will provide more patients with SCPs and demonstrate patient satisfaction. Blaes AH, Adamson PC, Foxhall L, Bhatia S. Survivorship Care Plans and the Commission on Cancer Standards: The Increasing Need for Better Strategies to Improve the Outcome for Survivors of Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020 Aug;16(8):447-450. doi: 10.1200/JOP.19.00801. Epub 2020 Apr 8. Erratum in: JCO Oncol Pract. 2020 Nov;16(11):774. PMID: 32267803. Gache, K., Leleu, H., Nitenberg, G. et al. Main barriers to effective implementation of stroke care pathways in France: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 14, 95 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-95 Citation Format: Dina Alnabulsi, Gloria L. Jackson, AnaMaria Lopez. Implementing System Solutions for Survivorship Care Plans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-24.

Abstract P3-03-15: Physical Activity and Risk of Death in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Prospective Study

Abstract BACKGROUND. Strong evidence exists supporting the protective effect of physical activity on the risk of developing breast cancer; however, its impact on survival after breast cancer diagnosis remains controversial with limited research in long-term survivors. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association of physical activity and risk of all-cause mortality in long-term breast cancer survivors. METHODS. We conducted a prospective cohort of 315 post-menopausal breast cancer survivors who were at least 2 years post their initial diagnosis (median 6 years of survivorship). They initially were diagnosed with early stage (AJCC TNM Stages 0-II) breast cancer between January 1996-December 2012. Baseline interviews were conducted between August 2013 and March 2015, and participants were followed until date of death or study’s end (April 2022). Subjects were queried on physical activity and fatigue using validated questionnaires, Godin Leisure Physical Activity Scale (GLPAS) and Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI). Physical activity was defined in 3 levels (active, moderately active, insufficiently active). Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the association of physical activity with risk of all-cause mortality, adjusted for age at baseline, breast cancer stage, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), years since cancer diagnosis, fatigue, race/ethnicity, lifetime history of insomnia and depression, and adjuvant cancer treatments (endocrine, chemotherapy and radiation). RESULTS. Of the 315 women, mean age at interview was 71 years (range: 57-86). The cohort included 30% women of color, mainly African American/Black and Asian/Pacific Islander women. Over a maximum follow-up of 8.7 years (median:7.8, IQR:7.3-8.3) after their baseline interview, 45 subjects (14.3%) died due to all causes. The mortality rates were: 12.9 per 1000 person years (PY) for active; 13.4 per 1000 PY for moderately active; and 32.9 per 1000 PY for insufficiently active. In multivariable analysis, compared to insufficiently active women, those who were active or moderately active had a markedly 60% decreased risk of death (active: HR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.21-0.85; moderately active: HR=0.40, 95% CI:0.17-0.95). CONCLUSION: We found that even moderate physical activity was associated with a significantly decreased risk of all-cause death in long-term breast cancer survivors. Survivorship care plans should consider incorporating physical activity because even moderate activity is vital for extending survival as well as health-related quality of life. Citation Format: Lie Hong Chen, Michael R. Irwin, Richard Olmstead, Reina Haque. Physical Activity and Risk of Death in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Prospective Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-15.

Abstract P4-05-05: The Psycho-Social Factors Impacting Black Women Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract Background: Breast Cancer (BC) mortality rates disproportionately affect African American (AA) women over any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. However, questions about how AA women who survive the disease navigate psychosocial factors such as body image, self-esteem, stigma and shame, thoughts and fears surrounding fertility, and romantic relationships remain unanswered. This study’s primary research question is, "How do AA women BC survivors create a new normal post-breast cancer while figuring out their own identity?" Methods: This qualitative study aims to address the psychosocial factors experienced by 20 AA women BC survivors in the U.S. The 20 women were recruited to participate in the IRB-approved study (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) through the Tigerlily Foundation, a non-profit breast cancer advocacy organization. The total duration of the study lasted a maximum of 1 hour and 45 minutes with participants answering one pre-interview questionnaire for demographic purposes and one interview with a member of the research team. Results: Preliminary results from the data conclude that AA women BC survivors, and potentially all cancer survivors, mirror individuals in the postpartum phase. Being postpartum is not inherently harmful; however, if one begins to experience symptoms of depression, loss of appetite, irritability, and insomnia for an extended period, there is a high possibility they are experiencing Postpartum Depression (PPD). BC survivors experience numerous changes that can drastically impact their quality of life. AA women BC survivors struggle immensely with body image and self-confidence issues after experiencing breast cancer, various surgeries, and treatments. Conclusion: If BC survivors, particularly AA women BC survivors experiencing systemic and institutional racism, are treated with the same care postpartum individuals are given, there can be a shift in how oncologists work with BC survivors. Creating more personalized survivorship care plans between patients, oncologists, and hospital-based social workers can improve psychosocial factors experienced by AA women BC survivors. Citation Format: Virginia Leach. The Psycho-Social Factors Impacting Black Women Breast Cancer Survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-05-05.

European Cancer Summit 2022 submission for Digital Health NetworkThe Survivorship Passport: a digital tool for better and homogeneous long-term care for childhood cancer survivors

BackgroundMany childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CCS) and their healthcare professionals lack information about possible late effects, personal risk profiles and the need of long-term follow-up care. Most have poor or no access to their clinical and treatment data as well as to a survivorship care plan. The Survivorship Passport (SurPass) is an innovative, digital tool, developed by the PanCare community in previous and on-going EU-funded projects (ENCCA, ExPO-r-Net, PanCareSurFup, PanCareFollowUp, PanCareSurPass), that can be used to overcome these gaps and improve people-centered long-term follow-up care. MethodsAim of the SurPass and of the PanCare community is to improve the quality of life and health status of CCS and to address their potential needs through the development of successively improving versions and functionalities of the platform. The SurPass provides an electronical and paper-based summary of a CCS´s clinical history, with detailed information about diagnosis and treatment, coupled with personalized follow-up and screening recommendations based on evidence-based guidelines published by the International Guidelines Harmonization Group (IGHG) and the PanCare Guidelines Group. Algorithms built into the platform allow the creation of an individualized care plan. ResultsThis endeavor started in 2011 when the prototype of the SurPass platform was developed (ENCCA) and integrated the first set of IGHG follow-up recommendations. SurPass was further improved (v1.1) by multi-language translation (ExPO-r-Net), and with a complete set of organ-specific recommendations alongside further new IGHG and PanCare guidelines (PanCareFollowUp v1.2). SurPass v2.0 is currently implemented and spread over several centers in six European countries (PanCareSurPass) whilst testing the interoperability between institutional electronic medical records and the SurPass platform. Similar to Europe's vision of a ‘Cancer Survivor Smart Card’, the SurPass tool was developed as a ‘resource’ function to link the individual treatment history to best surveillance and individual follow-up care recommendations for CCS. ConclusionsSurPass can be considered a proof of concept of the clinical-history and personalized-care modules sought under the EU-announced Cancer Survivor Smart Card initiative. Within the newly funded smartCARE project coordinated by ECO, we will share the experiences of the PanCare community with SurPass and international guideline development in survivorship since 2011.

Rural, Large Town, and Urban Differences in Optimal Subspecialty Follow-up and Survivorship Care Plan Documentation among Childhood Cancer Survivors.

Children with cancer from rural and nonurban areas face unique challenges. Health equity for this population requires attention to geographic disparities in optimal survivorship-focused care. The Oklahoma Childhood Cancer Survivor Cohort was based on all patients reported to the institutional cancer registry and ≤ 18 years old at diagnosis between January 1, 2005, and September 24, 2014. Suboptimal follow-up was defined as no completed oncology-related clinic visit five to 7 years after their initial diagnosis (survivors were 7-25 years old at end of the follow-up period). The primary predictor of interest was rurality. Ninety-four (21%) of the 449 eligible survivors received suboptimal follow-up. There were significant differences (P = 0.01) as 36% of survivors from large towns (n = 28/78) compared with 21% (n = 20/95) and 17% (n = 46/276) of survivors from small town/isolated rural and urban areas received suboptimal follow-up, respectively. Forty-five percent of adolescents at diagnosis were not seen in the clinic compared with 17% of non-adolescents (P < 0.01). An adjusted risk ratio of 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.5, 3.2) was observed for suboptimal follow-up among survivors from large towns, compared with survivors from urban areas. Seventy-three percent of survivors (n = 271/369) had a documented survivorship care plan with similar trends by rurality. Survivors from large towns and those who were adolescents at the time of diagnosis were more likely to receive suboptimal follow-up care compared with survivors from urban areas and those diagnosed younger than thirteen. Observed geographic disparities in survivorship care will inform interventions to promote equitable care for survivors from nonurban areas.

Care Processes and Quality-of-Life Outcomes Affecting the Gynecologic Cancer Survivorship Experience.

To describe and assess physical and psychosocial concerns and care processes related to cancer and treatment in gynecologic cancer survivors. 44 survivors of gynecologic cancer at City of Hope National Medical Center in southern California were enrolled. A descriptive mixed-methods approach was used. Data were collected on survivorship care plan implementation, supportive care referrals, and barriers to receiving care. Participants completed questionnaires assessing quality of life, unmet needs, and other outcomes at three, six, and nine months after enrollment. Changes over time were analyzed, and quantitative and qualitative results were compared. The most common unmet needs were stress reduction, side effect management, fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), and perception of adequate communication among the care team. Qualitative themes centered around communication, care coordination, FCR, financial distress, and need for information about peer support and healthy lifestyles. Nurses play a key role in coordinating care, assessing symptoms, and addressing psychosocial concerns. Providing education and coaching can reduce stress and facilitate survivors' self-management and self-efficacy.

Cancer survivorship experiences in Utah: an evaluation assessing indicators of survivors' quality of life, health behaviors, and access to health services.

The 2016-2020 Utah Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Plan prioritized strategies to address cancer survivorship experiences. In this paper we present estimates for nine indicators evaluating these priorities, trends over time, and assess disparities in survivorship experiences across demographic subgroups. We surveyed a representative sample of Utah cancer survivors diagnosed between 2012 and 2019 with any reportable cancer diagnosis. We calculated weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each indicator. We assessed change over time using a test for trend across survey years in a logistic regression model and used Rao-Scott F-adjusted chi-square tests to test the association between demographic characteristics and each survivorship indicator. Most of the 1,793 respondents (93.5%) reported their pain was under control, 85.7% rated their overall health as good, very good, or excellent, but 46.5% experienced physical, mental, or emotional limitations. Only 1.7% of survivors aged 75 or older were current smokers, compared to 5.8% of 65-74-year-olds and 7.9% of survivors aged 55-74 (p < 0.006). No regular physical activity was reported by 20.6% and varied by survivor age and education level. The proportion who received a survivorship care plan increased from 34.6% in 2018 to 43.0% in 2021 (p = 0.025). However, survivors under age 55 were significantly less likely to receive a care plan than older survivors. This representative survey of cancer survivors fills a gap in understanding of the cancer survivorship experience in Utah. Results can be used to evaluate and plan additional interventions to improve survivorship quality of life.

New horizons in managing older cancer survivors: complexities and opportunities

Older adults represent a growing population amongst cancer survivors who require specific consideration given the complex and largely unknown interactions between cancer-related concerns and age-related conditions. The increasing use of geriatric assessment (GA) has enabled oncologists to appropriately assess older patients' overall health status, personalise anti-cancer treatment and improve survival. However, whilst current research and practice focus on improving the management of older adults with cancer in the acute setting, the progress in the field of survivorship research in geriatric oncology is lagging. As cancer survivorship is a continuum, planning for a healthy survivorship should start at the time of cancer diagnosis. GA can play an important role in identifying potential survivorship issues and optimising delivery of survivorship care. A goal-directed, patient-focused geriatric survivorship care plan that involves a multidisciplinary team provides a framework for a personalised delivery of survivorship care in this patient group and there is a need for tailored interventions that support self-management and care integration. Research on the impact of cancer and its treatment on geriatric-specific outcomes needs to be prioritised through global initiatives to encompass a diverse and heterogenous population of adult cancer survivors.

SCORE: A multisite randomised controlled trial evaluating shared care for colorectal cancer survivors.

84 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivorship is rising. Few studies have considered shared follow up (FU) care (SC) between oncologists and primary care providers (PCPs). SCORE is the first large RCT of SC for CRC survivors. Aim: to compare SC with usual care (UC) for CRC survivors. Primary objective: assess the effect of SC vs UC on the EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/Quality of Life (GHQ-QoL) scale to 12 months (mo). Secondary objectives: assess the effect of SC vs UC on QoL; pt perceptions of care; costs; clinical care processes (CEA tests, recurrences); and feasibility (recruitment, completion rate). Methods: Pts had stage I-III CRC, completed all treatments within 3 mo, spoke English, had a PCP, and no prior cancer. After pt consent, PCP could opt out. Pts were randomised 1 to 1 to SC or UC. SC replaced 2 routine oncologist visits with PCP visits and included a survivorship care plan, concerns checklist and management guidelines for the PCP. PCPs were asked to request CEA tests at 3 and 9 mo visits. Pts completed measures at baseline (BL) and at 6 and 12 mo FU. An estimate of the difference (diff) between groups on GHQ-QoL to 12 mo was obtained from a mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM). The test of non-inferiority was performed by evaluating the lower limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) for the estimated diff (SC–UC) against a pre-specified non-inferiority margin (NIM) of -10 points. All randomised pts with available data were included in the primary analysis. Per-protocol population (PPP) comprised all randomised pts with ≥ 1 post-BL questionnaire (6 +/or 12 mo) and, for SC, ≥ 1 of the PCP visits. Results: 150 pts were randomised to SC (N=74) or UC (N=76); 11 PCPs declined. Median age 63 years, 39% women, 24% had radiotherapy. Primary: colon (59%), rectum (32%), overlapping (9%). 138/150 (92%) had BL and ≥1 post-BL GHQ-QoL score. 65/74 (88%) of SC pts attended 3- and/or 9-mo PCP visit. The mean (SD) GHQ-QoL scores at baseline / 6 mo / 12 mo were: 69 (18.7) / 69 (21.2) / 72 (20.2) for SC versus 68 (20.0) / 73 (15.1) / 73 (17.2) for UC. The MMRM mean estimate of GHQ-QoL across the 6 mo and 12 mo FU was 69 for SC and 73 for UC, mean diff -4.0 (95% CI: -9.0 to 0.9). The lower limit of the 95% CI did not cross the NIM. For the PPP (N=130/150), mean diff was -5.0 (95% CI: -10.1 to 0.2). No clear evidence of between group diffs on other C30 scales (accounting for multiplicity). At 12 mo, most popular preferences for FU were: SC for 40/63 (63%) in the SC group, similar preferences for SC 22/62 (35%) and ‘Hospital-based care with the doctors that treated the cancer’ 22/62 (35%) in UC. CEA completion was 89% at 3 and 83% at 9 mo in SC; 63% and 68% in UC. 5 recurrences in SC and 6 in UC arms. Conclusions: SCORE was highly feasible with high participation and retention, few PCPs declined. Compared to UC, pts having SC had non-inferior QoL. Adherence to CEA testing was higher in SC. Pts exposed to SC prefer this model of FU. Cost and implementation analyses will follow. Clinical trial information: ACTRN12617000004369 .

Predictors and impact of survivorship care plans and survivorship care visits.

We performed this study to characterize the population at the Lifespan Cancer Institute (LCI) who received a survivorship care plan (SCP) with or without a survivorship care visit (SCV) to determine both the impact on specialty referrals and the demographic and clinical predictors of SCPs and SCVs. We retrospectively reviewed EMR records on 1960 patients at LCI between 2014 and 2017 for SCPs and SCVs and extracted demographics, distress thermometer (DT) scores collected at the time of initial presentation, and subsequent referrals. We evaluated the bivariate associations of SCP and SCV with continuous and categorical factors and assessed the adjusted effect of these factors on receipt of SCP and SCV independently. All analyses were performed in R v4.0.2. SCPs were completed in 740 (37.8%) patients, and of those, 65.9% had a SCV. The mean age was 63.9, 67% were female, and 51.2% were married or partnered. Patients treated for breast, lung, and prostate cancers most received an SCP. Compared to SCP alone, the SCV was associated with more specialty referrals. Those who were younger and had breast cancer were more likely to receive a SCP, and those who were younger and female and had breast cancer were more likely to receive a SCV. Gender, age, and type of cancer are significant predictors of receipt of SCP and SCV. Patients who received either SCP, SCV, or both were more likely to receive specialty referrals than those who received neither. Identifying predictive factors of SCP and SCV can help facilitate earlier receipt of specialty services and specialty referrals as needed.

An analysis of survivorship care strategies in national cancer control plans in Africa.

In 2017, the World Health Organization urged member states to develop and implement national cancer control plans (NCCPs) and to anticipate and promote cancer survivor follow-up care, which is a critical yet often overlooked component of NCCPs. This study aims to examine the inclusion of cancer survivorship-related strategies and objectives in NCCPs of African countries. Independent reviewers extracted strategies, objectives, and associated indicators related to survivorship care from 21 current or recently expired NCCPs in African countries. Building on a similar analysis of the US state cancer control plans, reviewers categorized these strategies according to an adapted version of the ten recommendations for comprehensive survivorship care detailed in the 2006 National Academy of Medicine report. A total of 202 survivorship-related strategies were identified, with all NCCPs including between 1 and 23 references to survivorship. Eighty-three (41%) strategies were linked to measurable indicators, and 128 (63%) of the survivorship-related strategies were explicitly focused on palliative care. The most frequent domains referenced were models of coordinated care (65 strategies), healthcare professional capacity (45), and developing and utilizing evidence-based guidelines (23). The least-referenced domains were survivorship care plans (4) and adequate and affordable health insurance (0). The results of this study indicate that survivorship objectives and strategies should extend beyond palliative care to encompass all aspects of survivorship and should include indicators to measure progress. Stakeholders can use this baseline analysis to identify and address gaps in survivorship care at the national policy level.

Sexual Function of Male Survivors of Hematological Malignancy Treated by Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Multicenter Controlled Observational Study

A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the sexual function of male survivors of hematological malignancy treated by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) and to compare it with that of healthy male controls. By convenience sampling, 71 sexually active male survivors of hematological malignancy who underwent AHSCT were recruited, as well as 74 healthy men. A questionnaire with demographic and clinical data and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were completed. Survivors had a median age of 47 years, a median time since transplant of 3 years, and 46.5% had Hodgkin lymphoma. Based on the IIEF, they had a high level of sexual function, with best functioning domain “erection” and worst “overall satisfaction”. Healthy men had statistically significantly higher scores in all domains of the IIEF, except for “orgasm” (p = 0.205). There was a statistically significant association between sexual function and age (p < 0.0005), years since transplantation (p = 0.006), functional status (p < 0.0005), having children (p < 0.0005), relationship status (p = 0.001), education (p < 0.0005), diagnosis (p < 0.0005) and disease relapse (p = 0.017). Multivariate analysis showed that only age was a strong prognostic factor of sexual function (p < 0.0005). After age was excluded from the model, because of the strong effect it had on the dependent variable, functional status (p = 0.015), education (p = 0.002) and diagnosis (p = 0.001) had a statistically significant association with sexual function. These findings indicate the importance of sexual function for survivors’ well-being and the need for implementation of integrated care plans for survivors of hematological malignancy.

Abstract A033: The iCCARE Consortium for Prostate Cancer in Black men: Creating a survivorship care plan for Black prostate cancer survivors

Abstract Background: Globally, Black men suffer the greatest prostate cancer (CaP) burden. Blacks are diagnosed more at advanced stages of CaP, greater morbidity and mortality and poorer survivorship outcomes. Blacks are exposed to adverse, discriminatory societal determinants. How these determinants impact the CaP disparities, in particular survivorship and health related quality of life inequities are understudied. Studies examining patient-reported outcomes of Black CaP survivors reveal heightened negative HRQOL sequelae, and depression, family, work and living situation instability due to cancer treatment and societal determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH is used mostly in Public Health to predict population health risk and outcomes, but rarely integrated into HRQOL research and practice. This project is novel by incorporating SDOH into the assessment and relief of HRQOL threats. Despite the Black CaP disparities in survivorship, there remains unacceptable lack of focus and prioritization to provide comprehensive relief. Methods: In response to this noticeable scientific gap, our requisite multidisciplinary investigatory team including Survivor-Advocate Investigators joins forces to achieve the study goal. We are employing community engaged research practice to create a CaP survivorship care plan (SCP) template targeted to Blacks. Our SCP will provide a comprehensive best-practice roadmap to document medical information with treatment history and status, along with relevant resources and health advisories to provide relief for unfavorable sequalae due to cancer and its treatments as well as improve quality of life for CaP survivors. We are building upon the Science of Survivorship, and Contextual Socioecological and the Behavioral Precision Medicine Models with full survivor-advocate partnership to create the SCP. This project to develop a SCP template employs an informative consensus panel to inform the initial SCP. Results: Based on advocate-survivor input and guidance, the SCP will include resources and tools focused on SDOH, treatment adherence, treatment side effects and symptom relief, co-occurring chronic conditions, cardio-protective strategies, and physical, emotional and social wellbeing towards improving in patient outcomes and HRQOL in Black CaP survivors. Data from the Engagement Core and Survivor-Advocate Community Advisory Board, and the preliminary SCP CaP for Black men will be presented at the meeting. Conclusion: Our Consortium builds upon the work of the multidisciplinary PIs, and provide team science approach with robust scientific methods to better understand and address the HRQOL needs of Black CaP survivors. Importantly, this research will make available a patient-centered SCP for CaP survivors, focused on Black men. The iCCaRE Consortium will use this SCP_CaP to inform the development of Artificial Intelligence interventions addressing medical, follow-up care, surveillance, social and emotional support, SDOH and health advisories that will be deployed on popular mobile platforms for greater reach and on-demand use. Citation Format: Kimlin T. Ashing, Folakemi T. Odedina, Cassandra N. Moore, Che Ngufor, Getachew A. Dagne, Fornati Bedell, Diana Londoño, John McCall, Arnold Merriweather, JoAnne S. Oliver, Rotimi Rotimi Oladapo. The iCCARE Consortium for Prostate Cancer in Black men: Creating a survivorship care plan for Black prostate cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A033.