title: The Impact of Survivorship Care Planning on Patients, General Practitioners, and Hospital-Based Staff.
abstract: In 2005, the Institute of Medicine recommended that all cancer patients receive a survivorship care plan (SCP). Despite widespread support, few centers have routinely implemented them. Understanding of their impact is limited.
  
  
  
  The aims of this study were to examine the impact of SCP delivery on patients and healthcare professionals at an Australian comprehensive cancer center and determine enablers and barriers to implementation.
  
  
  
  Six groups were surveyed: (1) patients who had received SCPs; (2) nurse coordinators using SCPs, (3) general practitioners (primary care, GPs) of patients who had received SCPs, (4) clinical service chairs, (5) heads of allied health, and (6) nurse coordinators not using SCPs (nonengaged nurse coordinators). Groups 1 to 3 completed written questionnaires. Groups 4 to 6 participated in semistructured interviews.
  
  
  
  Fifty patients, 7 nurse coordinators, 18 GPs, 7 clinical service chairs, 4 heads of allied health, and 8 nonengaged nurse coordinators participated. Eighty-seven percent of patients considered the SCP to be very or somewhat useful; 50% felt it helped them understand their cancer experience. All engaged nurse coordinators reported SCPs to be very or somewhat useful, and 86% believed SCPs improved communication with GPs. General practitioners felt SCPs were very or somewhat useful (67%) and wished to receive SCPs for future patients (83%). Organizational and clinical leadership, multidisciplinary engagement, resourcing, and timing of SCP delivery were considered critical enablers.
  
  
  
  Patients and healthcare professionals support the use of SCPs; however, they are resource intensive and require significant organizational support.
  
  
  
  Nurses are instrumental to SCP implementation. Attention to enablers and barriers is important for successful implementation.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, a Richard Pratt Legacy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Mss Nolte, Kinnane, Lai-Kwon, Gates, and Shilkin, AProf Jefford); Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (AProf Jefford); Department of Clinical Haematology, Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia (Ms Gates); and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (AProf Jefford).
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kinnane
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lai-Kwon
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shilkin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jefford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data