Abstract
Introduction
This study evaluates the concordance of treatment summaries (TSs) and survivorship care plans (SCPs) delivered to breast cancer survivors within the LIVESTRONG™ Network of Survivorship Centers of Excellence with Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations and describes additional structure/process variables.
Method
Seven NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and six community-based centers participated. TS/SCPs for 65 patients were rated against IOM recommendations using a study-derived checklist, and surveys were administered to better understand the structure and process of delivering TSs/SCPs.
Results
On average, fewer than half of IOM content recommendations were met for TSs (M = 46%) and less than two thirds for SCPs (M = 59%). No sites achieved ≥75% overall concordance with IOM recommendations for TSs and only two of 13 met this criterion for SCPs. Content domain scores across sites varied widely, as did the number of sites addressing domain content with ≥75% concordance. Nonetheless, resources required for document preparation and delivery were substantial.
Discussion
Gaps in concordance with IOM recommendations exist even in dedicated survivorship centers. A substantial time burden was also noted. Further research is needed to determine which informational elements are essential, to develop and test strategies for improving efficiency and reach, and to determine if outcomes of survivorship care planning warrant the resources required in their preparation and delivery.
Implications for survivors
TSs and SCPs have been recommended for all cancer survivors. Essential elements must be determined, approaches made more efficient, outcome improvements demonstrated, and cost-benefit analyses determined before survivors should expect widespread implementation of this recommendation for survivorship care.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge contributions of both Donna Pucci and Alison Taggi, research coordinators at the University of Pennsylvania who were instrumental in conducting this study. We are also grateful to all of the clinical and research staff at each of the LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Centers of Excellence and community-based affiliates who participated in and helped collect data for this study. This research was supported by funding from the LIVESTRONG™ Foundation.
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Stricker, C.T., Jacobs, L.A., Risendal, B. et al. Survivorship care planning after the Institute of Medicine recommendations: how are we faring?. J Cancer Surviv 5, 358–370 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0196-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0196-4