Summing it up: An integrative review of studies of cancer survivorship care plans (2006‐2013)
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 23 September 2014
- Vol. 121 (7), 978-996
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.28884
Abstract
In 2006, the Institute of Medicine recommended that cancer survivors who are completing primary treatment receive a survivorship care plan (SCP) based on face validity. The state of scientific knowledge regarding the SCP is unclear. The authors conducted an integrative review of existing evidence regarding SCPs. The MEDLINE/PubMed database, the Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database were searched for relevant studies published between 2006 and 2013 using a combination of keywords: “survivors,” “survivorship,” “care plans,” “care planning,” “treatment summaries,” and “cancer.” Articles were included if they 1) reported results from an empirical study, 2) included cancer survivors who were diagnosed at age ≥18 years, 3) related to SCP, and 4) were published in English. In total, 781 records were retrieved; 77 were identified as duplicates, and 665 were abstracts or presentations that did not relate to SCPs for adults or were not empirical, which left 42 articles for inclusion in this review. Studies regarding SCP fell into 3 categories: 1) content (n=14), 2) dissemination and implementation (n=14), and 3) survivor and provider outcomes (n=14). SCPs have been endorsed and are associated with improved knowledge, but SCP use remains sporadic. Only 4 studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that avoided many biases associated with observational studies. Other limitations included cross‐sectional or pre‐SCP–post‐SCP (“pre‐post”) designs, limited generalizability caused by a lack of sample diversity, and a lack of systematic testing of data‐collection tools. The quantity and quality of SCP research are limited. SCPs have been endorsed, but evidence of improved outcomes associated with SCP is limited. Future research that addresses the methodological concerns of extant studies is needed regarding SCP use, content, and outcomes. Cancer 2015;121:978–996. © 2014 American Cancer Society.Keywords
This publication has 61 references indexed in Scilit:
- Tradeoffs between accuracy measures for electronic health care data algorithmsJournal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2012
- High Level Use and Satisfaction with Internet-Based Breast Cancer Survivorship Care PlansThe Breast Journal, 2011
- How confident are young adult cancer survivors in managing their survivorship care? A report from the LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center of Excellence NetworkJournal of Cancer Survivorship, 2011
- Survivors of breast cancer: patient perspectives on survivorship care planningJournal of Cancer Survivorship, 2011
- Principles and Recommendations for the Provision of Healthcare in Canada to Adolescent and Young Adult–Aged Cancer Patients and SurvivorsJournal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 2011
- Informational needs assessment of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma survivors and their physiciansAmerican Journal of Hematology, 2010
- The Potential of Survivorship Care Plans in Primary Care Follow-up of Minority Breast Cancer PatientsJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2009
- Transitioning to Breast Cancer Survivorship: Perspectives of Patients, Cancer Specialists, and Primary Care ProvidersJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2009
- The views of bowel cancer survivors and health care professionals regarding survivorship care plans and post treatment follow upJournal of Cancer Survivorship, 2009
- Comparing Care for Breast Cancer Survivors to Non-Cancer Controls: A Five-Year Longitudinal StudyJournal of General Internal Medicine, 2009