Survivorship Care Plans for Breast Cancer Patients: Understanding the Quality of the Available Evidence

Abstract

AimThe overall goal of the present study was to contribute to consistency in the provincial approach to survivorship care planning through knowledge synthesis and exchange. Our review focused on the research concerning the physical and emotional challenges of breast cancer (bca) patients and survivors and the effects of the interventions that have been used for lessening those challenges. MethodsThe psychosocial topics identified in bca survivorship care plans created by two different initiatives in our province provided the platform for our search criteria: quality of life (qol), sexual function, fatigue, and lifestyle behaviours. We conducted an umbrella review to retrieve the best possible evidence, and only reviews investigating the intended outcomes in bca survivors and having moderate-to-high methodologic quality scores were included. ResultsOf 486 reports retrieved, 51 reviews met the inclusion criteria and form part of the synthesis. Our results indicate that bca patients and survivors experience numerous physical and emotional challenges and that interventions such as physical activity, psychoeducation, yoga, and mindfulness-based stress reduction are beneficial in alleviating those challenges. ConclusionsOur study findings support the existing survivorship care plans in our province with respect to the physical and emotional challenges that bca survivors often face. However, the literature concerning cancer risks specific to bca survivors is scant. Although systematic reviews are considered to be the "gold standard" in knowledge synthesis, our findings suggest that much remains to be done in the area of synthesis research to better guide practice in cancer survivorship.

Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Generating Survivorship Care Plan Treatment Summaries in Patients With Breast Cancer

“…Burke et al 6 used focus groups to demonstrate the need for patient education regarding the transition between active cancer treatment and survivorship. Nonetheless, an umbrella meta-analysis conducted by D'Souza et al 7 revealed the paucity of actual data regarding best practices in survivorship care planning.…”

Integrative medicine and lifestyle in women survivors of breast cancer: an integrative review

“…Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured psychological approach to solving current problems, modifying behavior and useless thinking, promoting a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving social life, and finding benefits in the cancer experience, with unquestionable improvement in quality of life 19,20 .…”

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