Abstract P3-08-02: Breast cancer survivors’ outcomes and satisfaction following delivery of a survivorship care plan: Results of a multicenter trial
Authors: Stricker CT , Palmer SC , Panzer SL , Syrjala KL , Baker KS , McCabe MS , Rosenstein DL , Partridge AH , Arvey SR , Jacobs LA 
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been suggested as a solution to the fragmentation of care and suboptimal outcomes experienced by the more than 13 million cancer survivors in the US. Provider and patient acceptance of SCPs is generally high, but trials to date have examined outcomes such as cancer-related distress rather than constructs more directly related to the purpose of SCPs, such as improving coordination of care, knowledge about survivorship issues, and perceived usefulness by patients. Moreover, little is known about processes by which SCPs are developed and delivered in practice – who is involved and the level of resources needed for implementation. This pilot study used a quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test design to examine the process of delivering standardized SCPs and the outcomes achieved by post-treatment breast cancer survivors at seven cancer centers affiliated with the LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Centers of Excellence Network.

Method: Outcomes were assessed prior to SCP delivery and 3 months following and included survivors’ use of and satisfaction with SCPs, perceived knowledge about survivorship care and potential late effects, and survivors’ assessment of the quality and coordination of survivorship care. Process variables included type of provider delivering the SCP and time required to complete and deliver the SCP.

Results: 139 breast cancer survivors completed baseline and follow-up measures and received a comprehensive, standardized SCP at a survivorship visit (Age M = 53.9 years, 3.4 years post-diagnosis, 90.6% Caucasian). Satisfaction with the SCP was high, with 90% of participants being at least ‘satisfied’ and 56% being ‘very’ or ‘extremely satisfied’. Perceived knowledge about survivorship care improved following SCP delivery (p &lt; 0.001), as did survivor perception of quality of survivorship care received and coordination among providers (all p &lt; 0.001). A trend toward improvement in satisfaction with the follow-up care provider was also noted (p = 0.11). Most participants (88%) reported reading their SCP carefully following delivery. In the 3 months following delivery, participants reported they most commonly used SCP materials to make decisions about appropriate exercise (69%), which tests to receive and when (65%), and to make dietary changes (65%), but only 23% shared the SCP with their primary care providers during that time frame. With respect to process, providers were predominately NPs and Pas (80%). Although implementation varied, time burden was consistently high (M = 72 minutes to prepare, M = 48 minutes to deliver).

Discussion: This is the first known study to demonstrate significant improvements in perceived knowledge regarding and perceived quality of survivorship care following receipt of a comprehensive SCP. Survivors were satisfied with their SCP, and most frequently reported using SCPs in making decisions regarding behavioral changes. Results warrant further consideration in a randomized controlled trial, and approaches that maximize efficiency are needed given the time burden of providers to provide an SCP. SCPs have been recommended for all cancer survivors and these data provide preliminary support for this recommendation.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-08-02.