Using Survivorship Data to Inform Partnership Priorities

Authors:

Jeanne Strickland (Presenter)
Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Xiao Zhang, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
Amy Conlon, Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
Noelle LoConte, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Public Health Statement: There are over 250,000 estimated cancer survivors in Wisconsin; little is known about their health care access and quality of life.

Purpose: The Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program aimed to assess survivorship related issues among adult cancer survivors by sponsoring the Cancer Survivorship Module, which was added to the Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

Methods/Approach: Using data from the BRFSS in the years the Survivorship Module was included, we examined receipt of health care services, health insurance coverage, enrollment in clinical trials, and pain management among Wisconsin residents diagnosed with cancer.

Results: From 2010 to 2014, most of Wisconsin cancer survivors whose cancer treatments had ended received health care mainly from a family or general practitioner (71.5%). Approximately, 28.3% did not receive instructions from a health professional regarding where to receive routine cancer check-ups and only 35.9% received a written summary of all cancer treatments. Most survivors (94.4%) had insurance for cancer treatments, yet 7.2% had been denied insurance due to cancer. On average, 7.0% of survivors had participated in a clinical trial for cancer treatments. About 7.3% reported current pain from cancer or treatments and 80.5% had the pain under control.

Conclusions/Implications: Wisconsin cancer survivors did not receive optimal health care after the completion of treatment. Public health professionals and health care practitioners should develop programs to improve the delivery of health care services to cancer survivors. In addition, more efforts are needed to promote clinical trials participation.