Receipt of a survivorship care plan and self-reported health behaviors among cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: Our study aims to determine whether receipt of a written survivorship care plan (SCP) is associated with five self-reported health behaviors known to be correlated with positive long-term outcomes for cancer survivors: (1) attending a recent medical appointment, (2) exercise in the past month, (3) non-smoking status, (4) mammography in the past 2 years, and (5) up-to-date colorectal cancer screening.

Methods: In this secondary data analysis, we used data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) cancer survivorship module for 1855 off-treatment cancer survivors. Multivariable logistic regression accounting for complex survey design was used to examine the association between SCP receipt and each of the five preventive health behaviors.

Results: Overall, 37% (669/1855) of survivors reported receiving a written survivorship care plan. In the logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and disease-related factors, SCP receipt was associated with having a recent medical appointment (OR (95% CI) 2.81 (1.27-6.22)), exercise in the past month (1.78 (1.20-2.63)), non-smoking status (2.27 (1.26-4.12)), and up-to-date mammography (2.25 (1.30-3.88)). Receipt of a survivorship care plan was not associated with colorectal cancer screening (1.2 (0.73-2.03)).

Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that SCPs may be helpful in promoting health behaviors among cancer survivors, including attending a regular medical appointment, mammography screening, exercise, and abstinence from smoking. Additionally, the low rates of SCP provision highlight an important missed opportunity and area for intervention.

Implications for cancer survivors: Providing survivors with SCPs may help to increase important health behaviors.

Keywords: Cancer screening; Exercise; Health behaviors; Smoking; Survivorship care plan.