18 Background: The merit of supporting and educating breast cancer survivors (BCS) about survivorship issues such as cognitive dysfunction, body image concerns and fear of recurrence following treatment completion is well recognized. Though the majority of BCS appear to adjust fairly well in the long term, the transition from active treatments to survivorship is often described as distressing. While individualized interventions are typically not sustainable, group interventions provide an opportunity to inform BCS about potential late and long-term effects from cancer treatments in a supportive environment. BCS were offered an end of treatment educational group intervention (EOT). The EOT consists of a survivorship education session delivered by an MD and RN, a kit containing patient resources, as well as a survivorship care plan (SCP). BCS caregivers are welcomed to attend the EOT. This study aimed to assess BCS’ satisfaction, confidence level in managing their health, and intent to use the information received at the EOT. Methods: 18 EOTs have been provided to 83 BCS (group size range: 4 to 8 BCS, caregiver attendees not included). Participants completed a brief Likert-scale survey on a voluntary basis after the EOT. Variables of interest for included reported satisfaction, confidence and intent to use information received during the EOT. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze collected data. Results: Completed surveys were received from 69 participants (response rate 83.1%). To the survey question: “The survivorship information I received was helpful”, 72% (50) and 26% (18) responded strongly agreed and agreed, respectively. The majority of participants reported “Feeling better prepared for the next steps regarding their care” following the EOT (60% (42) strongly agreed; 33% (23) agreed). Lastly, the majority (78%) stated they were “very likely” to use the EOT information. Conclusions: Current evidence has demonstrated the feasibility and patient-related benefits of educational interventions within the field of survivorship. Our results suggest group-based interventions are efficient and effective for addressing the supportive and informational needs of BCS after treatment completion.
The post-treatment return-to-work transition experience for breast cancer survivors under 50 years of age
