Survivorship care plans and adherence to breast and cervical cancer screening guidelines among cancer survivors in a national sample.

PURPOSE

The impact of the components of survivorship care plans on adherence to cancer screening guidelines among cancer survivors is limited. We examined the association of receipt of treatment summaries, follow-up instructions, and type of doctor providing survivorship care with adherence to breast cancer screening (BCS) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) guidelines in female cancer survivors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2014, 2016 and 2018 was conducted. BCS and CCS-eligible women were aged 40-74 and 30-64, respectively. BCS adherence was defined as a mammogram within 2 years and CCS adherence as a pap smear within 3 years or HPV test within 5 years. Univariate analysis with chi-square and multivariable logistic regression are reported.

RESULTS

5,001 BCS and 3,014 CCS-eligible survivors were identified. In the BCS group, recipients of treatment summaries and follow-up instructions were significantly more adherent with BCS (84.1% vs. 77.4%; 83.4% vs. 74%, respectively, p < 0.001). In the CCS group, recipients of follow-up instructions were significantly more adherent with CCS (78.1% vs. 67.7%, p < 0.001). In both groups, there was no significant difference in BCS or CCS based on type of physician providing care (p = 0.087). On multivariate analysis, receipt of follow-up instructions was the only factor significantly associated with BCS (OR:2.81; 95%CI:1.76-4.49) and CCS (OR:3.14; 95%CI:1.88-5.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Follow-up instructions, as part of survivorship care plans, have the strongest association with BCS and CCS among female cancer survivors. Additional research should focus on improving the distribution of survivorship care plans, particularly follow-up instructions, as a method to increase BCS and CCS among cancer survivors.