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.

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.

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.

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.