Systematic approach to providing breast cancer survivors with survivorship care plans: a feasibility study

Abstract

Purpose: This was a feasibility study with the primary purpose to identify women with a diagnosis of breast cancer for survivorship care plan (SCP) delivery at the postoperative visit and deliver an SCP after treatment. The secondary purpose was to determine if patients' knowledge about their diagnosis, treatment, and risk for future adverse events improved with the SCP.

Methods: Sixty-seven English-speaking women older than age 18 years with stage I-III breast cancer were enrolled at their postoperative appointment. The participants' treatment was tracked through the electronic medical record; SCPs were generated based on information abstracted from the records. After treatment completion, participants received an SCP during a routine follow-up appointment. Knowledge of tumor, treatments, adverse events, and screening recommendations were assessed before receiving the SCP and 2 months later. Accuracy at baseline and follow-up were compared using the McNemar test.

Results: One hundred twenty-nine visits were screened to identify 75 eligible participants. Seventy-five eligible participants (100%) agreed to enroll, and 71 (95%) were given an SCP. Participants were more accurate in reporting details about their history, screening recommendations, and potential adverse events at follow-up than they were at baseline for most measures, but the only statistically significant changes were found with stage (P = .0016) and increased risk of leukemia (P = .0348).

Conclusion: It is feasible to identify and deliver SCPs to women with breast cancer who are approached during the postoperative visit in a surgical clinic. Additionally, SCPs seem to improve patient knowledge in several areas.