PERSON-CENTRED SURVIVORSHIP CARE

The transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor needs a change of approach by healthcare professionals (HCPs). The emphasis of care changes from protocol-driven cancer treatment and disease surveillance, to personalised Survivorship Care that meets all the physical, mental and social health needs of the survivor. For optimal results, survivors need to be engaged in their Survivorship Care and adhere to the recommendations for care. Both conditions can be met by a person-centred approach to Survivorship Care delivery, which has been shown to advance harmonisation between care providers and patients on treatment plans, improve health outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. 1

Person-centred care has been included in the definition of high-quality care. 2,3 Defined as ‘Care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions’, 2 person-centred care actively involves survivors as partners and sets the person’s perspective on their life situation and health condition at the centre of care. Partnership between survivor and HCPs will empower survivors to take an active role in managing their health and behaviour. 4

Guidance to implementation of Person-centred care

Person-centred care is at the core of the PanCareFollowUp Care intervention. To equip HCPs with patient-centred care skills, training on person-centred care was developed based on existing frameworks and experiences in the Netherlands. 5 Training was delivered to HCPs participating in the Care cohort study during PanCareFollowUp. First, HCPs were provided with a PowerPoint presentation with voice-over introducing person-centred care. Then, HCPs attended an in-person workshop on person-centred care that focused on the consultation process, providing information on the structure of the clinic visit and how to achieve shared control. The importance of focusing on the survivor as a whole person was highlighted, as well as accounting for the needs and preferences of the survivor within their social context. The key topics of the workshop were: an introduction to the principles of person-centred care, person-centred care from the HCP’s perspective, and person-centred care from the survivor’s perspective. Lastly, HCPs received a reference book with additional information on person-centred care and a description of the structure of a person-centred clinic visit.

Clinics interested in organising a workshop on person-centred care can contact PanCare (info@pancare.eu).

Disclaimer

PanCare strives to provide accurate and complete information that is up-to-date as of the date of publication.

No warranty or representation, expressed or implied, is made concerning the accuracy, reliability, completeness, relevance, or timeliness of this information.

The PanCare materials are free to use for anyone aiming to inform about late effects and long-term survivorship care. However, no financial advantage may be achieved. All communication should reference PanCare and link to the PanCare website.