The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices

Purpose Despite improving survival rates following colorectal cancer (CRC), post-treatment side-effects, such as bowel and sexual dysfunction, continue to impair survivors’ quality of life. These effects can persist, even years after completing primary treatment. This study aimed to explore the curr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Angela Ju, Kate White, Rachel Campbell, Bora Kim, Lisette Wiltink, Jared Walker, Emma Hamilton, Claudia Rutherford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-01-01
Series:Cancer Survivorship Research & Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28352610.2023.2279094
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846145659478999040
author Angela Ju
Kate White
Rachel Campbell
Bora Kim
Lisette Wiltink
Jared Walker
Emma Hamilton
Claudia Rutherford
author_facet Angela Ju
Kate White
Rachel Campbell
Bora Kim
Lisette Wiltink
Jared Walker
Emma Hamilton
Claudia Rutherford
author_sort Angela Ju
collection DOAJ
description Purpose Despite improving survival rates following colorectal cancer (CRC), post-treatment side-effects, such as bowel and sexual dysfunction, continue to impair survivors’ quality of life. These effects can persist, even years after completing primary treatment. This study aimed to explore the current assessment and management practices of clinical stakeholders, types of available interventions, and their perceived effectiveness.Methods An online survey was developed in consultation with CRC survivors and clinicians including colorectal surgeons and cancer nurses. Clinicians with experience in treating patients with CRC following primary treatment were invited to participate. The survey was launched online internationally, and responses were descriptively analyzed using SPSS® Statistics for Windows®.Results Of 114 respondents, 64.4% had ≥10 years of experience working with CRC survivors. There was heterogeneity of methods used to assess ongoing issues in survivors. The referral pathways for a given treatment side-effect were also variable. The main barriers to delivering ongoing care were increased wait times to see a new healthcare provider and limited financial and geographical access to healthcare services. Respondents (87.2%) identified that establishing clinical pathways would better facilitate ongoing care for CRC survivors and 61.3% recognized the potential for new interventions for certain treatment effects.Conclusion There is significant variability in the assessment and management of long-term post-treatment effects following treatment for CRC. A streamlined process, including practical advice and referral pathways for the management of CRC survivors’ ongoing care, is required to better equip clinicians to effectively manage post-treatment effects that significantly impact the quality of life of survivors.
format Article
id doaj-art-25660af8430741b3970093b13f2747f2
institution Kabale University
issn 2835-2610
language English
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cancer Survivorship Research & Care
spelling doaj-art-25660af8430741b3970093b13f2747f22024-12-02T05:20:10ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCancer Survivorship Research & Care2835-26102023-01-011110.1080/28352610.2023.2279094The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practicesAngela Ju0Kate White1Rachel Campbell2Bora Kim3Lisette Wiltink4Jared Walker5Emma Hamilton6Claudia Rutherford7Faculty Science, School of Psychology, Quality of Life Office, University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Care Research Unit (CCRU), The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaFaculty Science, School of Psychology, Quality of Life Office, University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, AustraliaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The NetherlandsSchool of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, AustraliaDepartment of General Surgery, Bundaberg Base Hospital, Bundaberg, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Care Research Unit (CCRU), The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaPurpose Despite improving survival rates following colorectal cancer (CRC), post-treatment side-effects, such as bowel and sexual dysfunction, continue to impair survivors’ quality of life. These effects can persist, even years after completing primary treatment. This study aimed to explore the current assessment and management practices of clinical stakeholders, types of available interventions, and their perceived effectiveness.Methods An online survey was developed in consultation with CRC survivors and clinicians including colorectal surgeons and cancer nurses. Clinicians with experience in treating patients with CRC following primary treatment were invited to participate. The survey was launched online internationally, and responses were descriptively analyzed using SPSS® Statistics for Windows®.Results Of 114 respondents, 64.4% had ≥10 years of experience working with CRC survivors. There was heterogeneity of methods used to assess ongoing issues in survivors. The referral pathways for a given treatment side-effect were also variable. The main barriers to delivering ongoing care were increased wait times to see a new healthcare provider and limited financial and geographical access to healthcare services. Respondents (87.2%) identified that establishing clinical pathways would better facilitate ongoing care for CRC survivors and 61.3% recognized the potential for new interventions for certain treatment effects.Conclusion There is significant variability in the assessment and management of long-term post-treatment effects following treatment for CRC. A streamlined process, including practical advice and referral pathways for the management of CRC survivors’ ongoing care, is required to better equip clinicians to effectively manage post-treatment effects that significantly impact the quality of life of survivors.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28352610.2023.2279094Colorectal cancersurvivorshippatient-reported outcomespost-treatment effects
spellingShingle Angela Ju
Kate White
Rachel Campbell
Bora Kim
Lisette Wiltink
Jared Walker
Emma Hamilton
Claudia Rutherford
The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
Cancer Survivorship Research & Care
Colorectal cancer
survivorship
patient-reported outcomes
post-treatment effects
title The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
title_full The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
title_fullStr The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
title_full_unstemmed The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
title_short The future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment: clinicians’ opinions and current practices
title_sort future of supportive care interventions for colorectal cancer survivors following primary treatment clinicians opinions and current practices
topic Colorectal cancer
survivorship
patient-reported outcomes
post-treatment effects
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/28352610.2023.2279094
work_keys_str_mv AT angelaju thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT katewhite thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT rachelcampbell thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT borakim thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT lisettewiltink thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT jaredwalker thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT emmahamilton thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT claudiarutherford thefutureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT angelaju futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT katewhite futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT rachelcampbell futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT borakim futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT lisettewiltink futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT jaredwalker futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT emmahamilton futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices
AT claudiarutherford futureofsupportivecareinterventionsforcolorectalcancersurvivorsfollowingprimarytreatmentcliniciansopinionsandcurrentpractices