CN43 - Development, implementation and evaluation of a cancer survivorship care program

Background

Cancer survivors experience treatment-related long-term and late effects, affecting their quality of life. Survivorship care is currently not adequately organized against these challenges and more understanding is needed. The aim of this project was to improve survivorship care by focusing on health care professionals across ten existing oncology groups at Ghent University Hospital.

Methods

A cancer survivorship care program was developed and implemented using action research. Based on a literature study, observations, focus group interviews, consensus meetings, data were gathered. The screening and development phase took place from 2020 till 2021. Implementation started in 2022 and is ongoing. Semi-structured interviews are being conducted to evaluate the program with the final results in October 2023.

Results

In order to improve and reorganize follow-up, training sessions were organized for health care professionals to increase their knowledge and awareness about survivorship care. Second, nurse consultations, in addition to physicians follow-up, were implemented which allowed clinical nurse specialist and oncology nurse navigators to focus more on psychosocial topics. Third, tools such as the survivorship care passport, the Holistic Need Assessment and a booklet for patients were developed as an aid to structure the consultation. Last, a digital platform was created to support health care professionals in primary and secondary health care with specific information on eight common challenges in survivorship care. This diverse set of tools was offered to all oncology groups. According to their needs, the implemented program was slightly different in every group. Preliminary results show positive experiences of the health care professionals on several levels. They feel more competent to deliver care which suits the need of patients. However, organizational issues and lack of time are common reported barriers.

Conclusions

Through action research, current barriers in survivorship care were identified and tailored solutions were offered to ten oncology groups. Preliminary experiences of health care professionals with this cancer survivorship care program look promising.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Ghent University Hospital.

Funding

Kom op Tegen Kanker.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.