Profiling current cancer survivorship practices and enhancing survivorship care in public hospitals in Victoria, Australia.

Purpose: Comprehensive survivorship care involves cancer surveillance, management of post-treatment effects, health promotion and coordination between care sectors. This study aimed to understand current survivorship practices, build awareness and support improved survivorship care in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: This project had three components: (1) a survey of 20 Victorian clinical sites, assessing elements described in the Victorian Quality Cancer Survivorship Framework; (2) educational webinars for oncology health professionals, to increase survivorship knowledge and awareness; (3) implementation of targeted survivorship care quality initiatives in a sample of health services.

SCORE: a randomised controlled trial evaluating shared care (general practitioner and oncologist) follow-up compared to usual oncologist follow-up for survivors of colorectal cancer.

Background: SCORE is the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) to examine shared oncologist and general practitioner (GP) follow-up for survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC). SCORE aimed to show that shared care (SC) was non-inferior to usual care (UC) on the EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/Quality of Life (GHQ-QoL) scale to 12 months.

Methods: The study recruited patients from five public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia between February 2017 and May 2021.

Colorectal cancer survivors' experiences and views of shared and telehealth models of survivorship care: A qualitative study.

Objectives: The number of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors is increasing and current models of survivorship care are unsustainable. There is a drive to implement alternative models of care including shared care between general practitioners (GPs) and hospital-based providers. The primary objective of this study was to explore perspectives on facilitators and barriers to shared care.

The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Symptom Monitoring for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicities: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in routine cancer care will increase the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Systems are needed to support remote monitoring for irAEs. Electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) symptom monitoring systems can help monitor and manage symptoms and side effects.

"Everything's a fight": A qualitative study of the cancer survivorship experiences of transgender and gender diverse Australians.

Background: There is widespread recognition of the need to achieve equitable outcomes for all cancer survivors. This requires understanding of the experiences and outcomes of vulnerable groups. People who identify as sexually or gender diverse are known to be at risk of inferior cancer and survivorship outcomes, however, the posttreatment survivorship experiences of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people have not been well studied.

Impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy on health-related quality of life of people with stage III and IV melanoma: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and targeted therapies (TT) have significantly improved disease control and survival in people with stage III and IV cutaneous melanoma. Understanding the impact of therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQL) is vital for treatment decision-making and determining targets for supportive care intervention. We conducted a mixed-methods systematic review to synthesise the impact of ICIs and TT on all domains of HRQL in these populations.

Current landscape of cancer survivorship research in Australia.

Aim: Response to the substantial and long-term impacts that a cancer diagnosis and treatment has on the growing population of cancer survivors, requires priority-driven, impactful research. This study aimed to map Australian cancer survivorship research activities to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement and compare activities against identified survivorship research priorities.

Methods: An online survey was completed by Australian researchers regarding their cancer survivorship research, and the barriers they identified to conducting such research.

Return to work in head and neck cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Purpose: Cancer survivors face higher rates of unemployment compared with individuals without a history of cancer. Compared to other cancer types, head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors face unique disease and treatment-specific issues that may limit return to work (RTW). This review aimed to determine employment outcomes of HNC survivors post-treatment and identify factors associated with RTW.

Improved models of care for cancer survivors.

The number of survivors of cancer is increasing substantially. Current models of care are unsustainable and fail to address the many unmet needs of survivors of cancer. Numerous trials have investigated alternate models of care, including models led by primary-care providers, care shared between oncology specialists and primary-care providers, and care led by oncology nurses.

Disparities in quality of life, social distress and employment outcomes in Australian cancer survivors.

Purpose: To examine how socio-demographic, comorbidities and information needs influence quality of life (QoL) outcomes of survivors of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or melanoma.

Methods: Cross-sectional postal survey with eligible participants identified through a population-based cancer registry. QoL outcomes were assessed by EQ-5D-5L, social difficulties index (SDI) and, for those employed at diagnosis, current employment.

Phase III study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life cancer survivorship core questionnaire.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group (EORTC QLG) questionnaire that captures the full range of physical, mental, and social health-related quality of life (HRQOL) issues relevant to disease-free cancer survivors. In this phase III study, we pretested the provisional core questionnaire (QLQ-SURV111) and aimed to identify essential and optional scales.

Methods: We pretested the QLQ-SURV111 in 492 cancer survivors from 17 countries with one of 11 cancer diagnoses.

Defining research and infrastructure priorities for cancer survivorship in Australia: a modified Delphi study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish research and infrastructure priorities for cancer survivorship.

Methods: A two-round modified online Delphi study was completed by Australian experts in cancer survivorship. Initial priorities were generated from the literature and organized into four research categories: physiological outcomes, psychosocial outcomes, population groups, and health services; and one research infrastructure category.

Effectiveness and implementation of models of cancer survivorship care: an overview of systematic reviews.

Purpose: To critically assess the effectiveness and implementation of different models of post-treatment cancer survivorship care compared to specialist-led models of survivorship care assessed in published systematic reviews.

Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from January 2005 to May 2021. Systematic reviews that compared at least two models of cancer survivorship care were included.

How Do We Define and Measure Optimal Care for Cancer Survivors? An Online Modified Reactive Delphi Study.

This research sought to answer the question 'what quality criteria do survivorship experts consider to be important in achieving optimal cancer survivorship care?'. An online modified reactive Delphi survey consisting of two rounds was completed with experts including consumers, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and quality and accreditation professionals. Survey items were based on international literature and considered three domains: Policy, process and outcome.

Patient-reported outcomes in survivors of breast cancer one, three, and five years post-diagnosis: a cancer registry-based feasibility study.

Introduction And Aims: The burden of treatment toxicities in breast cancer requires longitudinal assessment of patient-centered outcomes. The current study aimed to assess the feasibility of collecting general and breast cancer-specific quality of life (QoL), ongoing symptoms and unmet needs, in patients identified from a population-based cancer registry, and to assess the contribution of demographic, disease, and care-related factors.

Methods: Eligible patients were identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry (Victoria, Australia) using the ICD-10 code C50, diagnosed during 2013, 2011, and 2009.

Sharing Cancer Survivorship Care between Oncology and Primary Care Providers: A Qualitative Study of Health Care Professionals' Experiences.

Survivorship care that is shared between oncology and primary care providers may be a suitable model to effectively and efficiently care for the growing survivor population, however recommendations supporting implementation are lacking. This qualitative study aimed to explore health care professionals' (HCPs) perceived facilitators and barriers to the implementation, delivery and sustainability of shared survivorship care. Data were collected via semi-structured focus groups and analysed by inductive thematic analysis.

Survivorship in Colorectal Cancer: A Cohort Study of the Patterns and Documented Content of Follow-Up Visits.

Survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) may experience a range of physical, psychosocial, and practical challenges as a consequence of their diagnosis. We assessed the patterns and documented content of follow-up visits within the first three years following treatment, in comparison to survivorship care guidelines. Survivors with stage I-III CRC who underwent curative resection at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre from July 2015 to January 2018 were followed for up to 1080 days.

Facilitators and barriers to shared primary and specialist cancer care: a systematic review.

Purpose: To care for the growing population of cancer survivors, health services worldwide must reconsider how to deliver care to people living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Shared care, defined as cancer care that is shared between specialist and primary care providers, is one model that has been investigated; however, practical guidance to support implementation is lacking. This systematic review aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to implementing shared cancer care and to develop practice and policy recommendations to support implementation.

Patient-reported outcomes in melanoma survivors at 1, 3 and 5 years post-diagnosis: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Purpose: There is a lack of population-based data describing patient reported outcomes (PROs) in melanoma survivors which could guide the development of interventions and resources. This study assessed overall quality of life (QoL), self-reported symptoms and unmet information needs in melanoma survivors 1, 3 or 5 years post-diagnosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted in Victoria, Australia, with eligible melanoma survivors identified from a population-based cancer registry.

Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on cancer survivorship care.

Background: Cancer survivors often experience long‑term negative consequences of their cancer and cancer treatment. With increasing numbers of survivors and duration of survival, a sustainable model of care is required to better meet the needs of cancer survivors.

Objective: The aim of this article is to outline the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Model of Survivorship Care, summarising the critical components of cancer survivorship care.

Clinical placement program in cancer survivorship for primary care providers 2017-2019.

Purpose: The growing population of cancer survivors indicates an increasing role for primary care practitioners (PCPs). Building on two pilot initiatives, we sought to demonstrate feasibility of a state-wide program of short observational placements for PCPs and identify changes in knowledge and confidence to deliver survivorship care.

Methods: Placements were offered at hospitals with oncology departments across Victoria, Australia.

Return to Work in Survivors of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: An Australian Experience.

Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) commonly affects people of working age, yet there is limited data regarding the return-to-work experience in this cohort. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of survivors currently working after completion of radiation therapy and to explore potential facilitators and barriers to working after treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional, single-institutional study was undertaken at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, a comprehensive cancer center in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Identifying the most prevalent unmet needs of cancer survivors in Australia: A systematic review.

Understanding the unmet needs of cancer survivors is crucial to inform health service planning and optimize survivorship care. This systematic review sought to identify the most prevalent unmet needs of cancer survivors in Australia, and to determine personal, disease, and treatment-related variables correlated with unmet needs. Seventeen studies were included in the review.