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01-02-2020 | Breast Cancer | Original Article

The association between cancer care coordination and quality of life is stronger for breast cancer patients with lower health literacy: A Greater Plains Collaborative study

Authors: Bradley D. McDowell, Jennifer Klemp, Anne Blaes, Andrea A. Cohee, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Sailaja Kamaraju, Julie L. Otte, Sarah L. Mott, Elizabeth A. Chrischilles

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 2/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Health literacy (HL) and cancer care coordination (CCC) were examined for their relationship to quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer survivors. CCC was hypothesized to have a stronger relationship to QOL for women with lower HL.

Methods

Women (N = 1138) who had completed treatment for Stage 0–III, ductal carcinoma breast cancer between January 2013 and May 2014 at one of eight large medical centers responded to a mailed questionnaire. Responses to questions about survivorship care planning and presence of professional care coordinator were combined to form an index of CCC. An index of HL was also derived. QOL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) scales.

Results

74.3% (N = 845) of patients reported having a health professional coordinate their care during treatment and 78.8% (N = 897) reported receiving survivorship care planning. CCC was classified as none, partial, or high for 7.1%, 32.7%, and 60.2% of the patients, respectively. Except for emotional well-being, the interaction between HL and CCC was significant for all QOL domains (p < .05); the effect of CCC on FACT-B scores was largest for people with lower HL. For the 39.8% of patients with less than high CCC, 111 (27.3%) had a level of HL associated with clinically meaningful lower QOL.

Conclusions

The association between CCC and later QOL is strongest for people who have lower HL. Prioritizing care coordination for patients with lower health literacy may be an effective strategy in a setting of limited resources.

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Title: The association between cancer care coordination and quality of life is stronger for breast cancer patients with lower health literacy: A Greater Plains Collaborative study
Authors: Bradley D. McDowell
Jennifer Klemp
Anne Blaes
Andrea A. Cohee
Amy Trentham-Dietz
Sailaja Kamaraju
Julie L. Otte
Sarah L. Mott
Elizabeth A. Chrischilles
Publication date: 01-02-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Care
Breast Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 2/2020
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04894-y

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