Relationship between survivorship care plans and unmet information needs, quality of life, satisfaction with care, and propensity to engage with, and attend, follow-up care

Rebecca E Hill; Rebecca Mercieca-Bebber; Joanna E Fardell; Claire E Wakefield; Christina Signorelli; Kate Webber; Richard J Cohn; ANZCHOG Study Group

doi:10.1002/cncr.34984

Relationship between survivorship care plans and unmet information needs, quality of life, satisfaction with care, and propensity to engage with, and attend, follow-up care

Cancer. 2023 Dec 1;129(23):3820-3832. doi: 10.1002/cncr.34984. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

Authors

Rebecca E Hill^{1

2}, Rebecca Mercieca-Bebber³, Joanna E Fardell^{1

2}, Claire E Wakefield^{1

2}, Christina Signorelli^{1

2}, Kate Webber⁴, Richard J Cohn^{1

2}; ANZCHOG Study Group

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
² Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Background: The impact of survivorship care plans (SCPs) on the proximal and distal outcomes of adult and childhood cancer survivors, and parent proxies, is unclear. This study aimed to determine the relationship between SCP receipt and these outcomes.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adult and childhood cancer survivors (and parent proxies for survivors aged younger than 16 years) across Australia and New Zealand was conducted. Multivariate regression models were fitted to measure the impact of SCP receipt on proximal (unmet information needs and propensity to engage with, and attend, cancer-related follow-up care) and distal outcomes (quality of life and satisfaction with cancer-related follow-up care) with control for cancer history and sociodemographic factors.

Results: Of 1123 respondents, 499 were adult cancer survivors and 624 were childhood cancer survivors (including 222 parent proxies). We found that SCP receipt was predictive of greater attendance at, and awareness of, cancer-related follow-up care (adult: odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% CI, 1.18-5.12; OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.07-5.29; child/parent: OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.63-4.17; OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.06-2.50; respectively). SCP receipt also predicted fewer unmet information needs related to "follow-up care required" and "possible late effects" (adult: OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.20-0.96; OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13-0.64; child/parent: OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30-0.72; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.85; respectively). In terms of distal outcomes, SCP receipt predicted a better global quality of life for adult cancer survivors (β, 0.08; 95% CI, -0.01-7.93), proxy-reported health-related quality of life (β, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.44-7.12), and satisfaction with follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.64-5.23).

Conclusions: Previous studies have shown little impact of SCPs on distal end points. Results suggest that SCPs may be beneficial to cancer survivors' proximal and distal outcomes.

Keywords: adult cancer; childhood cancer; quality of life; survivorship; survivorship care plan; unmet needs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aftercare*
Aged
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Neoplasms* / therapy
Patient Care Planning
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of Life
Survivorship