title: Exploring the use of the survivorship consult in providing survivorship care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in breast cancer treatment have increased survival and contributed to longer periods of survivorship as reported by the Committee CCSsS (Canadian Cancer Statistics) (2011) and Hewitt et al. (2005), increasing the relevance of survivorship care. Survivorship care includes encouraging survivors to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their life, as well as engaging survivors through post-diagnosis disease self-management and self-care strategies. The Survivorship Consult (SC) was designed to help survivors reflect on their needs, establish goals and create an action plan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six breast cancer survivors who participated in the SC at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre took part in semi-structured interviews to assess the survivor experience and effectiveness of the SC. Data from these interviews were coded, and themes were identified using a modified grounded theory approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes that emerged regarding the experience and effectiveness of the SC included (1) the supportive experience of collaborative dialogue with supportive care clinicians (i.e. nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.), (2) the development of personalized goals that motivated individuals to implement recommendations, (3) an enhanced understanding of their health condition, team and options, (4) an improved ability to identify needs and (5) an increased sense of confidence to manage issues related to care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of the SC improved the experience of breast cancer patients by providing a supportive environment where they could feel cared about, by increasing understanding of their condition and its treatment, by improving communication with the care team and by motivating patients to manage care issues. Further research is needed on survivors who conduct the SC before the treatment phase of their cancer trajectory.
authors: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St., Toronto, ON, M5S2S1, Canada. david.wiljer@camh.ca
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Wiljer
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Urowitz
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Jones
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Kornblum
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Secord
authors: Pamela
authors: P
authors: Catton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors