Journal article
Characterizing head and neck cancer survivors' discontinuation of survivorship care
Cancer, Vol.128(1), pp.192-202
01/01/2022
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33888
PMCID: PMC8678194
PMID: 34460935
Abstract
Background Little is known about cancer survivors who discontinue survivorship care. The objective of this study was to characterize patients with head and neck cancer who discontinue survivorship care with their treating institution and identify factors associated with discontinuation. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, who received cancer-directed therapy at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). Eligible patients achieved a cancer-free status after curative-intent treatment and made at least 1 visit 90+ days after treatment completion. The primary outcome was discontinuation of survivorship care, which was defined as a still living survivor who had not returned to a UIHC cancer clinic for twice the expected interval. Demographic and oncologic factors were examined to identify associations with discontinuation. Results Ninety-seven of the 426 eligible patients (22.8%) discontinued survivorship care at UIHC during the study period. The mean time in follow-up for those who discontinued treatment was 15.4 months. Factors associated with discontinuation of care included an unmarried status (P = .036), a longer driving distance to the facility (P = .0031), and a single-modality cancer treatment (P < .0001). Rurality was not associated with discontinuation (24.3% vs 21.6% for urban residence; P = .52), nor was age, gender, or payor status. Conclusions The study results indicate that a sizeable percentage of head and neck cancer survivors discontinue care with their treating institution. Both demographic and oncologic factors were associated with discontinuation at the treating institution, and this points to potential clinical and care delivery interventions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Characterizing head and neck cancer survivors' discontinuation of survivorship care
- Creators
- Aaron T. Seaman - University of IowaKristen L. Seligman - University of IowaKhanh K. Nguyen - University of IowaZaid Al-Qurayshi - University of IowaNicholas D. Kendell - University of IowaNitin A. Pagedar - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cancer, Vol.128(1), pp.192-202
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1002/cncr.33888
- PMID
- 34460935
- PMCID
- PMC8678194
- ISSN
- 0008-543X
- eISSN
- 1097-0142
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- P30CA086862 / National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) KL2TR002536; UL1TR002537 / National Center for the Advancement of Translational Sciences (Institute for Clinical and Translational Science) of the National Institutes of Health
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; General Internal Medicine; Community and Behavioral Health; Otolaryngology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984311438802771
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