Primary care providers (PCPs) have been given the responsibility of managing the follow-up care of low-risk cancer survivors after they are discharged from the oncology center. Survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) were developed to facilitate this transition, but research indicates inconsistencies in how they are implemented. A detailed examination of enablers and barriers that influence their use by PCPs is needed to understand how to improve SCPs and ultimately facilitate cancer survivors’ transition to primary care. An interview guide was developed based on the second version of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF-2). PCPs participated in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to develop a codebook to code text into each of the 14 TDF-2 domains. Thematic analysis was also used to generate themes and subthemes. Thirteen PCPs completed the interview and identified the following barriers to SCP use: unfamiliarity with the side effects of cancer treatment (Knowledge), lack of clarity on the roles of different healthcare professionals (Social Professional Role and Identity), follow-up tasks being outside of scope of practice (Social Professional Role and Identity), increased workload, lack of options for psychosocial support for survivors, managing different electronic medical records systems, logistical issues with liaising with oncology (Environmental Context and Resources), and patient factors (Social Influences). PCPs value the information provided in SCPs and found the follow-up guidance provided to be most helpful. However, SCP use could be improved through streamlining methods of communication and collaboration between oncology centres and community-based primary care settings.
15 March 2025 in Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal
This paper provides an overview of the survivorship special interest group workshop conducted at the 2023 CANO/ACIO Annual Conference. Using a case exemplar, the workshop aimed to highlight patients’ unique needs throughout the cancer trajectory and to enhance clinical oncology nurses’ knowledge of self-management support strategies they can use to assist patients with survivorship concerns. A discussion with workshop attendees facilitated how the provision of self-management support strategies assists in meeting a patients’ individual needs at three phases of the cancer trajectory: surgery, chemotherapy, and transition to primary care. Ninety-three percent of workshop attendees agreed that their understanding of survivorship evolved through their participation. Participants also reported that the workshop had a positive impact on their practice by providing them with new strategies to support patients during transitions and encouraging early integration of self-management support into their practice. Keywords: cancer survivorship, oncology nursing, self-management support, workshop, education
15 March 2025 in Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal
Le présent article résume l’atelier du groupe d’intérêt spécial sur la survivance qui s’est tenu lors de la conférence annuelle de 2023 de l’ACIO. Cet atelier visait à souligner, à l’aide d’un cas exemplaire, les besoins particuliers de la personne atteinte du cancer tout au long de la trajectoire de la maladie. Il visait aussi à aider l’infirmière en oncologie à mieux connaître les stratégies de soutien à l’autogestion susceptibles d’aider le patient à calmer ses inquiétudes liées à la survie. Au cours d’une discussion avec les participants à cet atelier, on a montré comment ces stratégies pouvaient aider à combler les besoins particuliers du patient à trois étapes précises de la lutte contre le cancer : la chirurgie, la chimiothérapie et la transition vers les soins primaires. Quatre-vingt-treize pour cent des participants ont reconnu que l’atelier leur avait permis de mieux comprendre la question de la survivance. Les participants ont aussi affirmé que l’atelier avait eu un effet positif sur leur pratique; cela leur avait permis d’apprendre de nouvelles stratégies pour appuyer les patients durant les étapes de transition et les avait incités à intégrer rapidement à leur pratique le soutien à l’autogestion par les patients. Mots-clés : survie au cancer, soins infirmiers en oncologie, soutien à l’autogestion, atelier, information