title: Patient and provider preferences for survivorship care plans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Survivorship care plans (SCPs) are tools used to assist in the transition from treatment to surveillance cancer care. However, few studies have investigated survivor and provider preferences regarding SCPs. Our purpose was to explore survivor and primary care provider preferences regarding content, format, and delivery of SCPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and provider interviews were performed in 2010. Five different templates were presented to study participants for their feedback. Each SCP included a treatment summary, surveillance schedule, and care plan for the same fictitious patient. Sessions were transcribed, and field notes taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four focus groups (n = 29 survivors) and five primary care providers participated. No cancer survivors had ever received a written SCP. We found clear preferences for the Journey Forward format (with some modifications) and face-to-face delivery (print or electronic) to the survivor by his or her oncologist just before or soon after completion of treatment. Primary care providers preferred an abbreviated version.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Written SCPs were endorsed by all patients and primary care providers as helpful communication tools. However, if used alone, the SCP would be insufficient to ease the transition to follow-up care. Improved communication and care coordination were identified as important for survivorship care that went beyond what this document might provide.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. dmayer@unc.edu
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerstel
authors.forename: Ashley N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Leak
authors.forename: Sophia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult