title: Evaluating a nurse-led survivorship care package (SurvivorCare) for bowel cancer survivors: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer affecting both men and women in Australia. The illness and related treatments can cause distressing adverse effects, impact on emotional and psychological well-being, and adversely affect social, occupational and relationship functioning for many years after the end of treatment or, in fact, lifelong. Current models of follow-up fail to address the complex needs arising after treatment completion. Strategies to better prepare and support survivors are urgently required. We previously developed a nurse-led supportive care program (SurvivorCare) and tested it in a pilot study involving 10 CRC survivors. The intervention was found to be highly acceptable, appropriate, relevant and useful.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a multisite, randomised controlled trial, designed to assess the impact of the addition of the SurvivorCare intervention to usual post-treatment care, for people with potentially cured CRC. SurvivorCare comprises the provision of survivorship educational materials, a tailored survivorship care plan, an individually tailored nurse-led, face-to-face end of treatment consultation and three subsequent telephone calls. Eligible patients have completed treatment for potentially cured CRC. Other eligibility criteria include stage I to III disease, age greater than 18 years and adequate understanding of English. All consenting patients complete questionnaires at three time points over a six-month period (baseline, two and six months). Measures assess psychological distress, unmet needs and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This supportive care package has the potential to significantly reduce individual suffering, whilst reducing the burden of follow-up on acute cancer services through enhanced engagement with and utilisation of general practitioners and community based services. If the intervention is successful in achieving the expected health benefits, it could be disseminated readily. All training and supporting materials have been developed and standardised. Furthermore, the intervention could easily be adapted to other cancer or chronic disease settings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12610000207011.
authors: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia. michael.jefford@petermac.org
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Jefford
authors: Sanchia
authors: S
authors: Aranda
authors: Karla
authors: K
authors: Gough
authors: Kerryann
authors: K
authors: Lotfi-Jam
authors: Phyllis
authors: P
authors: Butow
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Krishnasamy
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Young
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Phipps-Nelson
authors: Lahiru
authors: L
authors: Russell
authors: Dorothy
authors: D
authors: King
authors: Penelope
authors: P
authors: Schofield
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001315:Australia; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors
references: Psychooncology. 2008 Jul;17(7):629-40
references: 17973235
references: Cancer. 2005 Apr 1;103(7):1494-502
references: 15726544
references: J Cancer Surviv. 2008 Mar;2(1):20-32
references: 18648984
references: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993 Mar 3;85(5):365-76
references: 8433390
references: CA Cancer J Clin. 2011 Mar-Apr;61(2):69-90
references: 21296855
references: Patient Educ Couns. 2002 Oct -Nov;48(2):177-87
references: 12401421
references: Med Care. 2004 Jun;42(6):512-21
references: 15167319
references: Soc Sci Med. 2001 Sep;53(5):669-77
references: 11478545
references: BMJ. 1992 Nov 28;305(6865):1317-22
references: 1483075
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 2002 May;97(5):1228-34
references: 12017152
references: Qual Life Res. 1994 Apr;3(2):127-41
references: 8044158
references: J Cancer Surviv. 2009 Jun;3(2):99-108
references: 19415504
references: Cancer. 2005 Mar 15;103(6):1292-301
references: 15700265
references: Psychosomatics. 2001 May-Jun;42(3):241-6
references: 11351113
references: Psychooncology. 2008 Jun;17(6):538-47
references: 17973237
references: Psychooncology. 2007 Sep;16(9):796-804
references: 17177268
references: Eur J Surg. 1998 Aug;164(8):587-92
references: 9720935
references: Cancer Nurs. 2011 May-Jun;34(3):E1-10
references: 21045754
references: Eur J Cancer. 1999 Feb;35(2):238-47
references: 10448266
references: Dis Colon Rectum. 1995 Apr;38(4):361-9
references: 7720441
references: Ann Intern Med. 1998 Jul 1;129(1):27-35
references: 9652996
references: Int J Clin Oncol. 2006 Oct;11(5):339-43
references: 17058130
references: J Cancer Surviv. 2007 Sep;1(3):226-36
references: 18648973
references: Oncol Nurs Forum. 2002 Jun;29(5):789-801
references: 12058154
references: Br J Surg. 2001 Dec;88(12):1617-22
references: 11736975
references: Lancet. 1989 Jan 21;1(8630):146-8
references: 2563057
references: Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2011 Apr;11(2):171-84
references: 21476819
references: Eur J Cancer. 2006 Aug;42(12):1848-57
references: 16829069
references: Dis Colon Rectum. 1999 Dec;42(12):1569-74
references: 10613475