Evidence-based interventions and strategies are needed to foster improved provider communication, symptom management, and peer support for women facing ovarian cancer. Future nursing research should focus on strategies that enhance support, perceived control, hope, and spirituality.
Purpose
This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a Self-Management Survivorship Care Planning (SM-SCP) intervention in colorectal and lung cancer survivors.
Methods
This is a single-group, pre- and post-mixed methods study of an advance practice nurse-driven survivorship care intervention that integrates a survivorship care plan with self-management skills coaching. Colorectal and lung cancer survivors with stage I–III disease were enrolled at 3–6 months after completing treatments, and the intervention was administered in one in-person or telephone session. Survivor outcome measures included depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, QOL, and satisfaction. Paired t-tests were used for exploratory evaluations of pre- to post-intervention score changes. Content analysis was conducted to analyze the qualitative data to describe survivors’ experience with the intervention.
Results
Thirty participants (15 colorectal, 15 lung) enrolled and completed the study (73% retention). It took an average of 40 minutes to complete the TS/CP and 34.2 minutes to deliver the intervention. Exploratory analysis revealed significant differences from baseline to post-intervention in depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, physical functioning, role limitations-physical, pain, general health, health transition, physical health summary, and total QOL. Three qualitative themes emerged: 1) Feeling empowered about having a plan; 2) Struggling with psychosocial concerns; and 3) Suggestions for intervention content and delivery.
Conclusions
The SM-SCP intervention was feasible and acceptable for colorectal and lung cancer survivors after treatment completion. Survivorship care interventions have potential to fulfill the unmet needs of colorectal and lung cancer survivors. Their effectiveness might be greater by integrating conceptually-based models of care, such as self-management skills building.
Gynecologic cancer survivors experience significant distress that can impact quality of life (QOL). Optimal survivorship care requires an understanding of the survivor’s QOL and supportive care needs. The purpose of this study was to describe the QOL and needs of gynecologic cancer survivors. Women with an initial diagnosis of gynecologic cancer within 7 months of completing primary treatment ( N = 34) completed the QOL-Cancer Survivor tool and the Cancer Survivors’ Unmet Needs Survey. Fear of cancer recurrence was a repetitive theme for both tools. The lowest ranking QOL items were distress from diagnosis and treatment, family distress, and uncertainty about the future. Commonly reported needs included help to reduce stress, manage side effects, cope with fears of cancer recurrence, and gain reassurance that providers were communicating, and providing the very best medical care. Appreciating QOL and needs can facilitate the development of support services specifically tailored to gynecologic survivors.
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