Potential benefits of treatment summaries for survivors' health and information needs: results from a LIVESTRONG survey.

PURPOSE Treatment summaries (TSs), a critical component of survivorship care plans, have been identified as a tool to improve outcomes for the 14 million cancer survivors in the United States. METHODS In 2010, the LIVESTRONG Foundation fielded the LIVESTRONG Survey for People Affected by Cancer. The survey was designed to assess the physical, emotional, and practical concerns after cancer as well as receipt of treatment summaries. Participants were recruited online and through national partners. RESULTS Over a 9-month period, > 12,000 people completed the survey, including 3,682 post-treatment cancer survivors (PTCSs). PTCSs who received a TS reported that they were closer to time since diagnosis or end of treatment (P < .01), more likely to have received chemotherapy (P < .01), more likely to have received the majority of their health care from a medical oncologist (P < .05), experiencing significantly fewer post-treatment emotional concerns (P < .05), and significantly less likely to say that they had learned to live with their concerns (P < .05). PTCSs who received a TS more often reported that their needs had been met, including receiving information about possible late effects, care they received during treatment, and care they received after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Receipt of a TS was associated with a variety of positive outcomes; however, only approximately one third of PTCSs received one. Future studies focused on patient perspectives on care planning tools can help to improve optimal survivorship care delivery. Possible solutions for improving access to a TS are included.