title: Patient resources available to bladder cancer patients: a pilot study of healthcare providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey thought leaders attending an annual bladder cancer conference about resources available to survivors at, primarily, large academic centers treating a high volume of patients. Bladder cancer is a disease with high treatment burden. Support groups and survivorship programs are effective at managing physical and psychosocial impairments experienced by patients. The Institute of Medicine recommends increased resources for cancer survivorship, but no description of current resources exists for bladder cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preceding the 4th annual Bladder Cancer Think Tank meeting in August 2009, we carried out an Internet-based survey of registrants that queried respondents about institutional resources and support systems devoted to bladder cancer survivors. Data were collected using SurveyMonkey.com, and descriptive statistics were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 43 eligible respondents included urologists (77%), medical oncologists (16%), and other physicians or health professionals (7%). Physician respondents represented 22 academic centers and 2 private groups. Although 63% of respondent institutions had a National Cancer Institute designation, only 33% had an active bladder cancer support group. Survivorship clinics were available in 29% of institutions, and peer support networks, community resources for education, and patient navigation were available in 58%, 13%, and 25% of respondent institutions, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resources for bladder cancer survivors vary widely and are lacking at several academic centers with high-volume bladder cancer populations. Bladder cancer providers are often unaware of available institutional resources for patients. Urologists need to advocate for additional survivor resources and partner with other disciplines to provide appropriate care.
authors: Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0946, USA. ctlee@umich.edu
authors: Cheryl T
authors: CT
authors: Lee
authors: Minghua
authors: M
authors: Mei
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Ashley
authors: Gene
authors: G
authors: Breslow
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: O'Donnell
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Gilbert
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Lemmy
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Saxton
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Sagalowsky
authors: Shubhada
authors: S
authors: Sansgiry
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Latini
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D002170:Canada; D032921:Consensus; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D054547:National Cancer Institute (U.S.) / Q000458:organization & administration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017741:Survivors; D014481:United States; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*