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

Abstract

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.