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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 5/2017

01-05-2017 | Original Article

Experiences with the survivorship care plan in primary care providers of childhood cancer survivors: a mixed methods approach

Authors: Neel S. Iyer, Hannah-Rose Mitchell, Daniel J. Zheng, Wilhelmenia L. Ross, Nina S. Kadan-Lottick

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 5/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Focusing on primary care providers (PCPs) of known childhood cancer survivors, we used a mixed methods approach to understand providers’ experiences with the survivorship care plan (SCP), as well as preferences and barriers regarding survivorship care.

Methods

The SCP was sent to 202 eligible PCPs of patients attending a regional survivorship clinic. The PCPs then completed quantitative postal surveys. Sixteen PCPs underwent an additional qualitative interview. Provider characteristics were examined as potential predictors of experiences, preferences, and barriers regarding survivorship care. Grounded theory was utilized to analyze the qualitative data.

Results

Respondents (n=134) included 55% pediatricians, 23% internists, 20% family practitioners, and 2% obstetricians/gynecologists. Only 8% of PCPs preferred to have primary responsibility for survivorship care; 46% favored a specialized clinic. A minority of PCPs reported that they felt “very comfortable” using the SCP to guide surveillance (31%) or deliver all survivorship care (3%). Endorsed barriers included lack of knowledge/training (74%), not recalling or understanding the contents of the SCP (69%), and uncertainty about who is responsible for providing care (58%). Two distinct themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: a preference not to be responsible for survivorship care, and uncertain utility of the SCP.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that PCPs of childhood cancer survivors generally felt uncomfortable using the SCP and providing survivorship care. Even with the availability of the SCP, the biggest barrier was lack of knowledge. Our data suggests that including PCPs in survivorship care will require additional educational opportunities and evaluation of more collaborative models of care delivery.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Experiences with the survivorship care plan in primary care providers of childhood cancer survivors: a mixed methods approach
Authors
Neel S. Iyer
Hannah-Rose Mitchell
Daniel J. Zheng
Wilhelmenia L. Ross
Nina S. Kadan-Lottick
Publication date
01-05-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3544-0

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