Table 3.

Evaluating Impact of Survivorship Care Planning: Metrics for Success

Metric
Survivor level
Improved (perceived) patient-physician communication
Improved understanding of needed follow-up tests, their purpose and timing, and who will conduct them
Better understanding of potential late effects of illness and what symptoms might be important to report
Better adherence to recommended follow-up activities; fewer requests for unnecessary tests
Improved ability to identify providers and resources to address persistent effects of cancer and its treatment
Decreased cancer-related morbidity
Improved health-related quality of life and function
Improved healthy lifestyle choices
Potentially improved overall survival
Clinician level
Improved (perceived) patient-physician communication
Improved physician-physician communication
Better ability to coordinate care
Improved knowledge about and ultimately standardization of follow-up care behaviors
Improved ability to monitor survivors' health and implement changes in care in response to new information about treatment exposures and follow-up needs
System level
Reduced duplication of services
Improved access to information necessary to guide follow-up care; less time spent searching for this
Enhanced quality of care delivery (eg, compliance with evolving quality standards)

NOTE. Data adapted.³⁶