Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR&D Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Improving breast cancer survivors' knowledge using a patient-centered intervention.

Ulloa JG, Hemmelgarn M, Viveros L, Odele P, Feldman NR, Ganz PA, Maggard-Gibbons M. Improving breast cancer survivors' knowledge using a patient-centered intervention. Surgery. 2015 Sep 1; 158(3):669-75.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Low-income, minority women with breast cancer experience a range of barriers to receiving survivorship information. Our objective was to test a novel, patient-centered intervention aimed at improving communication about survivorship care. METHODS: We developed a wallet card to provide oncologic and follow-up care survivorship information to breast cancer patients. We used a prospective, pre-post design to assess the intervention at a safety net hospital. The intervention was given by a patient navigator or community health worker. RESULTS: Patient knowledge (n  =  130) of personal cancer history improved from baseline pretest to 1 week after the intervention for stage (66-93%; P  <  .05), treatment (79-92%; P  <  .05), and symptoms of recurrence (48-89%; P  <  .05), which was retained at 3 months. The intervention reduced the number of patients who were unsure when their mammogram was due (15-5% at 1 week and 6% at 3 months; P  <  .05). Nearly 90% reported they would be likely to share their survivorship card with their providers. CONCLUSION: A patient-centered survivorship card improved short-term recall of key survivorship care knowledge and seems to be effective at reducing communication barriers for this population. Further studies are warranted to assess long-term retention and the impact on receipt of appropriate survivorship follow-up care.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.