Colorectal cancer survivorship care plans: Variations in documentation and posttreatment surveillance recommendations

Alaina Chodoff, Katherine C. Smith, Aishwarya Shukla, Amanda L. Blackford, Nita Ahuja, Fabian M. Johnston, Kimberly S. Peairs, Justinian R. Ngaiza, Tam Warczynski, Brenda Nettles, Eden Stotsky-Himelfarb, Adrian G. Murphy, Nancy Mayonado, Jennifer DeSanto, Claire F. Snyder, Youngjee Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Survivorship care plans (SCP) should outline pertinent information about cancer treatment and follow-up. Methods: We descriptively analyzed the content of 74 colorectal cancer SCPs completed as part of a randomized, controlled trial of SCPs at an academic and community cancer center. Surveillance recommendations were compared with American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Results: SCP information provided in >80% of the plans included participant age, cancer diagnosis, details, and side-effects of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) and health promotion recommendations. SCP content documented less frequently included predisposing conditions, genetic counseling/testing information and staging. Posttreatment surveillance recommendations were documented in >90% SCPs. For stage 2–3 cancer, rates of guideline concordant recommendations were 100% for colonoscopy surveillance (Year 1 only), 87% for imaging surveillance, 65% for carcinoembryonic antigen surveillance, and 33% for follow-up visits. Excluding colonoscopy, >15 unique recommendations were listed for each modality across stages and sites, with more variation at the academic site. Conclusions: SCPs consistently recorded information about cancer diagnosis and treatment but omitted critical information about cancer-specific details denoting risk. Surveillance recommendations varied considerably between cancer centers. Future work to improve the consistency of surveillance recommendations documented in SCPs may be needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)678-691
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Surgical Oncology
Volume125
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2022

Keywords

  • cancer surveillance
  • cancer survivorship
  • colorectal cancer
  • survivorship care plans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Surgery

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