Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a cancer survivorship care delivery intervention.

Authors

null

Sarah A. Birken

Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

Sarah A. Birken, Alexandra Peluso, Cheyenne Wagi, Stacy Wentworth, Kathryn E. Weaver

Organizations

Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: A large and rapidly increasing number of US cancer survivors who have completed active treatment continue to seek oncology care. Low-risk survivors who continue to seek oncology care incur greater costs but experience worse care quality and outcomes than those who seek primary care. In this study, we assessed the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of START (Supporting Transitions AfteR Treatment), a theory-driven, stakeholder-engaged intervention intended to improve the transition of low-risk survivors to primary care. Methods: To pilot START, beginning in August 2020, we engaged oncology providers (n = 5) and staff (n = 4) at a small community affiliate of our academic comprehensive cancer center. We worked with a nurse navigator, office manager, and physician champion to refine START’s content and delivery to accommodate the needs of a busy community cancer center. We queried electronic health records (EHRs) to assess the feasibility of identifying low-risk survivors and measuring key outcomes (i.e., receipt of recommended health maintenance services). In a formal meeting, we introduced providers to START and helped them to identify survivors whom they agreed should be transitioned to primary care. Front desk staff flagged these survivors to remind providers to transition them in upcoming appointments. Beginning in July 2021, we will conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews with oncology providers and staff and survivors regarding their perspectives on START’s acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Results: We successfully identified survivors using EHRs and engaged the nurse navigator and providers in identifying the subset of survivors whom they deemed eligible for transitioning to primary care. Preliminary results indicate that START helped providers to transition eligible survivors to primary care. We have successfully engaged cancer center data managers in measuring relevant outcomes using EHRs. Informal provider and staff feedback suggests that START is an acceptable, appropriate, and feasible approach to transitioning survivors. Conclusions: At the conference, we will report on oncology provider and staff and survivor perceptions of START’s acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility for improving survivorship care delivery and preliminary findings regarding START’s effectiveness in increasing survivors’ receipt of recommended health maintenance services. Findings will be used to refine START and form the basis of a clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness in improving survivorship outcomes.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Cost, Value, and Policy; Health Equity and Disparities; Patient Experience

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities,Patient Experience,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science

Sub Track

Guideline-Concordant Care Initiatives

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 28; abstr 19)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.39.28_suppl.19

Abstract #

19

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

Abstract

2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Shift in survivorship care delivery.

First Author: Elizabeth Boutin McGrath

First Author: Hira Latif

First Author: Michelle Payan

Abstract

2018 Cancer Survivorship Symposium

Delivery of survivorship care from rural primary care and oncology practices.

First Author: Jennifer R. Klemp