Abstract
Purpose
In Georgia, there are more than 356,000 cancer survivors. Although many encounter challenges as a result of treatment, there is limited data on the availability of survivorship programming. This paper highlights findings from two surveys assessing survivorship care in Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited hospitals in Georgia.
Methods
In 2010, 38 CoC-accredited hospitals were approached to complete a 36-item survey exploring knowledge of national standards and use of survivorship care plans (SCPs), treatment summaries (TSs), and psychosocial assessment tools. In 2012, 37 CoC-accredited hospitals were asked to complete a similar 21-item survey.
Results
Seventy-nine percent (n = 30) of cancer centers completed the 2010 survey. Sixty percent (n = 18) reported having a cancer survivorship program in place or in development. Forty-three percent (n = 13) provided survivors with a SCP and 40 % (n = 12) a TS. Sixty percent (n = 18) reported either never or rarely using a psychosocial assessment tool. Sixty-two percent (n = 23) completed the 2012 survey. Ninety-six percent (n = 22) were aware of the new CoC guideline 3.3. Thirty-nine percent (n = 9) provided a SCP and/or TS. Eighty-seven percent (n = 20) stated they were very confident or somewhat confident their organization could implement a SCP and/or TS by 2015.
Conclusions
The data indicated the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility for survivorship care. Broad implementation of SCPs and TSs can help address the late and long-term effects of treatment.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Increasing knowledge on survivorship care is imperative as the Georgia oncology community engages oncologists and primary care providers to achieve higher quality of life for all survivors.
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Acknowledgments
This research would not have been possible without support from the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, Georgia Cancer Control Consortium Steering Committee, and Survivorship Work Group. Thank you also to the Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer centers in Georgia for completing the 2010 and 2012 online surveys for this research.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Appendix
Appendix
Appendix A
2010 Survey Instrument
Appendix B
2012 Survey Instrument
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Kirsch, L.J., Patterson, A. & Lipscomb, J. The state of cancer survivorship programming in Commission on Cancer-accredited hospitals in Georgia. J Cancer Surviv 9, 80–106 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0391-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0391-1