Radiation Therapy Survivorship: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on Education and Care
Background: Survivorship care plans are tools for long-term cancer care management; however, little is known regarding radiation therapy providers’ perspectives on survivorship care and education.
Objectives: This study was designed to identify priorities for improvement in radiation therapy– specific cancer survivorship education.
Methods: An investigator-developed online survey of healthcare provider communication with patients regarding cancer survivorship was administered within an academic radiation therapy oncology practice. Seventeen survivorship categories were evaluated for each provider, including when and how often survivorship issues were addressed, perceived priority of issues, and provider knowledge of survivorship resources.
Findings: 23 providers responded. Providers reported that the five most important patient concerns were fear of recurrence, radiation therapy side effects, surveillance, preventive measures and nutrition, and stress management. The most time was spent discussing side effects and recurrence risk.
