2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P4.15D.01 Beyond Survival: A Pilot Study Analyzing Physician and Patient Perspectives on Lung Cancer Survivorship Care at Weill Cornell Medicine

P4.15D.01 Beyond Survival: A Pilot Study Analyzing Physician and Patient Perspectives on Lung Cancer Survivorship Care at Weill Cornell Medicine

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The document discusses the complex needs of lung cancer survivors and stresses the importance of structured survivorship programs. Lung cancer survivors form a significant segment of the healthcare system, having unique physical and psychological needs post-treatment. The study at Weill Cornell Medicine Medical Oncology aimed to explore and address the gaps in survivorship care using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. <br /><br />In the first cycle, surveys were developed for physicians to capture their perspectives on survivorship care. The second cycle involved patient-centric surveys to gain insights into patient experiences and concerns. It identified several unaddressed areas, such as mobility, fatigue, breathing difficulties, pain, and practical concerns, that both physicians and patients highlight as critical but often neglected in standard care protocols.<br /><br />Illustrative patient quotes reveal gratitude for early detection and treatment but underline difficulties in understanding new medical terms and the need for more support. They also emphasize the invaluable role of integrative medicine in improving life quality post-treatment. <br /><br />To improve survivorship care, the study suggests eliciting survival concerns proactively, providing targeted training for healthcare providers, building strong community partnerships, and improving referral processes. These initiatives aim to enhance the quality of life for lung cancer survivors by addressing their distinct needs and setting a precedent for comprehensive, patient-centered survivorship care. <br /><br />This groundwork is expected to inform the development of a new Thoracic Survivorship Program, transforming the landscape of care and offering a model for effective survivorship care for lung cancer patients. Most frequent referrals from this study included nutrition, physical therapy, social work, and integrative health services.

Asset Subtitle

Christine Garcia

Meta Tag

Speaker Christine Garcia

Topic Multidisciplinary Care: Nursing, Allied Health & Palliative Care

Keywords

lung cancer survivors

survivorship programs

healthcare system

Weill Cornell Medicine

Plan-Do-Study-Act framework

patient experiences

integrative medicine

quality of life

Thoracic Survivorship Program

referral processes