Abstract
Survivor care plans have been described as useful tools for enhancing the quality of follow-up care that cancer survivors
receive after their active treatment has been completed. The relative success of current survivor care plan models is strongly
dependent on the actions of individual patients. In this qualitative study of 33 cancer survivors, we explored patients’ understanding
of follow-up care and their motivations and resources for seeking care. Three types of survivor experiences were identified
from narratives of patients treated in community oncology and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers,
ranging from nonactivated patients who need enhanced health care communication and decision support to navigate their care
to highly activated patients adept at navigating complex health care settings. Using the patient-centered medical home as
a conceptual framework, we propose a research, policy, and practice agenda that advocates for multifaceted decision support
to enhance cancer survivorship and follow-up care.
receive after their active treatment has been completed. The relative success of current survivor care plan models is strongly
dependent on the actions of individual patients. In this qualitative study of 33 cancer survivors, we explored patients’ understanding
of follow-up care and their motivations and resources for seeking care. Three types of survivor experiences were identified
from narratives of patients treated in community oncology and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers,
ranging from nonactivated patients who need enhanced health care communication and decision support to navigate their care
to highly activated patients adept at navigating complex health care settings. Using the patient-centered medical home as
a conceptual framework, we propose a research, policy, and practice agenda that advocates for multifaceted decision support
to enhance cancer survivorship and follow-up care.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Research
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s13142-012-0138-3
- Authors
- Shawna V. Hudson, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681, USA
- Suzanne M. Miller, Psychosocial and Biobehavioral Medicine Department, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Jennifer Hemler, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681, USA
- Aneesah McClinton, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681, USA
- Kevin C. Oeffinger, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Alfred Tallia, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681, USA
- Benjamin F. Crabtree, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681, USA
- Journal Translational Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1613-9860
- Print ISSN 1869-6716