title: Patient-centered outcome evaluation of the Rural Breast Cancer Survivors Intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patient-centered evaluation is a critical but often overlooked component of intervention research. The Rural Breast Cancer Survivors (RBCS) Intervention is a survivorship education and support intervention designed for rural breast cancer survivors. Here, we describe evaluation of the RBCS Intervention from the participants' experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred sixty-four breast cancer survivors participating in the RBCS Intervention were asked to complete the RBCS Evaluation Survey that consisted of 6 quantitative statements and 12 qualitative questions via mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenty-one participants (61 %) returned the RBCS Evaluation Survey. All 221 completed the qualitative component, and 91 (25 %) completed the quantitative. Overall, participants indicated that the education materials were easy to understand and addressed their quality of life concerns. Majority (94 %) indicated that the survivorship information was helpful in making health decisions and communicating concerns to family (87 % strongly agree/agree) and oncology team (88 % strongly agree/agree). Only 66 % indicated that the survivorship educational materials were provided at an appropriate time after completion of primary breast cancer treatment. Qualitative data suggested that participants had positive perceptions and experiences and found the RBCS Intervention helpful. One-on-one interaction with the intervention nurses was the single most highly valued aspect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the RBCS Intervention was helpful. Education materials addressed quality of life concerns. Breast cancer survivors developed skills in communicating with their family and oncology team. Intervention nurses were identified as the most valuable aspect of the program. Suggestions include earlier timing of survivorship education and support, and adaptation using social media access to serve other rural survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-centered evaluations, using both quantitative and qualitative data, provide enriched understanding of evidence-based survivorship interventions and should be considered a standard for future work.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave S, MT 624, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. yumeis@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Schoenberger
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.|Kirchner Group, Birmingham, AL, 35242, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McNees
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meneses
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors
keywords: Enjoyment; Helpfulness; Patient-centered evaluation; Psychoeducational support interventions; Quality of life; Rural breast cancer survivors