title: Survivorship care after breast cancer treatment--experiences and preferences of Australian women.
abstract: Follow-up care after breast cancer treatment is becoming more complex as it attempts to address the long-term needs of an increasing number of survivors. Workforce issues in oncology challenge the sustainability of current specialist-based care. This study explores survivors' experiences with follow-up care and attitudes to alternative models including a tailored survivorship care plan and involvement of primary care physicians and breast care nurses. Twenty women across Australia participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. All continued to attend follow-up visits with a specialist oncologist and reported a high level of satisfaction with care. Participants described a strong reliance on their specialist but were open to an increased role for their primary care physician in a shared model of care. Communication between multidisciplinary team members was perceived as an ongoing problem and there was enthusiasm for a patient-held written survivorship care plan to address this, and to meet information needs.
authors.affiliation: The Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Mater Hospital, Rocklands Road, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia. meagan.brennan@sydney.edu.au
authors.forename: Meagan E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marven
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spillane
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*