Profiling current cancer survivorship practices and enhancing survivorship care in public hospitals in Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE

Comprehensive survivorship care involves cancer surveillance, management of post-treatment effects, health promotion and coordination between care sectors. This study aimed to understand current survivorship practices, build awareness and support improved survivorship care in Victoria, Australia.

METHODS

This project had three components: (1) a survey of 20 Victorian clinical sites, assessing elements described in the Victorian Quality Cancer Survivorship Framework; (2) educational webinars for oncology health professionals, to increase survivorship knowledge and awareness; (3) implementation of targeted survivorship care quality initiatives in a sample of health services. Survey, evaluation and outcome data were reported descriptively.

RESULTS

All sites responded to the survey (3 hospitals have a common operating model hence supplied a single response). Most (11/18, 60%) rated their survivorship care as 'developing' and did not have a clear survivorship care policy (13/18, 72%). The provision of post-treatment information was inconsistent, as was the assessment for needs. Most sites do not stratify survivors (< 25% of survivors received stratified care at 13/18 sites, 72%), provide survivorship care plans (< 25% survivors received SCP at 8/18 sites, 44%) and collect limited outcome data. Webinars were well received, with 98% of health professionals reporting improved knowledge and awareness. All seven sites valued targeted implementation support to improve aspects of survivorship care.

CONCLUSIONS

Current Victorian survivorship care appears suboptimal. There was good health professional engagement with educational webinars and with improvement activities.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Results have informed survivorship improvement work, focusing on implementing policy, improving aspects of care delivery and building capability across the state.