Transitioning patients to survivorship care: a systematic review

Problem Identification: In 2005, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a seminal report on cancer survivorship that discussed the goals and structure of cancer survivorship care with the recommendation to use a survivorship care plan (SCP). However, the manner in which these recommendations are operationalized and their relationship to patient outcomes are unknown.

Literature search: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL®, and the Cochrane Database. Articles were selected if they included a provider-mediated intervention and were published after 2005, for a total of nine articles.Data Evaluation: The studies were evaluated according to the purposes of survivorship care, the use of an SCP, and models of care recommended by the IOM.

Conclusions: The outcomes of the studies were not conclusive in supporting a specific model of survivorship care or the use of a SCP. Two of the nine studies adhered to the IOM goals of survivorship care and SCP recommendations in their interventions.

Implications for practice: The design and testing of nurse-led survivorship programs is imperative, as nurses may be effective in ensuring consistent, patient-centered education for cancer survivors.