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Myers L, Johnston EA, Zajdlewicz L, Viljoen B, Kelly S, Perry N, Stiller A, Crawford-Williams F, Chan RJ, Emery JD, Bergin RJ, Aitken JF, Goodwin BC. What are the mechanisms underlying the delivery of survivorship care information in Australia? A realist review. Psychooncology 2024; 33:e6321. [PMID: 38488825 DOI: 10.1002/pon.6321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Quality survivorship information is an essential component of cancer care. However, survivors often report not receiving this information and healthcare professionals report limited practical guidance on how to effectively deliver survivorship information. Therefore, this study used realist review methods to identify mechanisms reported within the published literature for communicating survivorship information and to understand the contextual factors that make these mechanisms effective. METHODS Full-text papers published in CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Academic Search Ultimate were included. Studies included in this review were conducted in Australia between January 2006 and December 2023, and reported on how information regarding survivorship care was communicated to adult cancer survivors living in the community. This review utilized realist methodologies: text extracts were converted to if-then statements used to generate context-mechanism-outcome theories. RESULTS Fifty-one studies were included and six theories for mechanisms that underpin the effective delivery of survivorship information were formed. These include: (1) tailoring information based on the survivors' background, (2) enhancing communication among providers, (3) employing dedicated survivorship staff, (4) providing survivorship training, (5) reducing the burden on survivors to navigate their care, and (6) using multiple modalities to provide information. CONCLUSIONS Findings can inform practical guidance for how survivorship care information is best delivered in practice. Clinicians can apply this guidance to improve their individual interactions with cancer survivors, as can policymakers to develop healthcare systems and procedures that support effective communication of cancer survivorship information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Myers
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
- School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Johnston
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
- Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leah Zajdlewicz
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bianca Viljoen
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Kelly
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole Perry
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anna Stiller
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fiona Crawford-Williams
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Raymond J Chan
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jon D Emery
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Bergin
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joanne F Aitken
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
| | - Belinda C Goodwin
- Cancer Council Queensland, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
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Phansuwon K, Cindy Tan SY, Kerin-Ayres K, Malalasekera A, L Vardy J. Evaluation of survivorship care plans in patients attending the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre. Support Care Cancer 2021; 30:2207-2213. [PMID: 34704156 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The transitioning of cancer survivors from active treatment to surveillance care has been described as uncoordinated, with lack of communication between healthcare professionals. Survivorship care plans (SCP) are recommended to bridge this transitioning period and help improve coordination of care. SCP contain individualized information about a survivor's cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recommendations for managing treatment-related side effects and improving lifestyle risk factors for cancer recurrence and chronic disease. The aims of the study were to assess the delivery, usefulness, and compliance with SCP of survivors attending a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic and to determine patient suggestions regarding how to improve SCP. METHODS A total of 110 survivors were interviewed in-person or by phone regarding their SCP following a script with formalized questions. Data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Overall, 65% of participants (72/110) acknowledged having received a SCP and 86% found them useful. Only 11% of survivors (8/72) showed their SCP to other health professionals and about half (33/72) showed it to family/friends. Ninety percent of survivors (65/72) reported following at least one recommendation in their SCP. CONCLUSION Survivors found SCP helpful but did not share them with other healthcare providers, which questions their usefulness in coordinating care. There were challenges with SCP delivery. Survivors reported they were compliant with SCP lifestyle recommendations. Further research is required to address the utility of SCP to other stakeholders, such as general practitioners, to determine whether they receive the SCP, if they find them helpful, and their expectations regarding SCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kain Phansuwon
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sim Yee Cindy Tan
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord, NSW, 2137, Australia.,Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord West, NSW, Australia
| | - Kim Kerin-Ayres
- Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord, NSW, 2137, Australia
| | - Ashanya Malalasekera
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord, NSW, 2137, Australia
| | - Janette L Vardy
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Hospital Rd, Concord, NSW, 2137, Australia.
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