Availability of cancer survivorship support services across the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program network

Abstract

Background National cancer organizations recommend provision of nutrition, physical activity, and mental health supportive services to cancer survivors. However, the availability of these services across diverse community oncology settings remains unclear. Methods The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a national network of community oncology practices engaged in cancer research. The 2022 NCORP Landscape Assessment (5UG1CA189824) assessed individual practices’ establishment of survivorship clinics and nutrition, physical activity, and mental health services, resources, and/or referrals. Descriptive statistics summarized and logistic regression quantified the association between services, practice, and patient characteristics. Results Forty-five of 46 (98%) NCORP Community Sites responded to the survey, representing 259 adult practice groups. Forty-one percent had a survivorship clinic, 96% offered mental health, 94% nutrition, and 53% physical activity services, resources, and/or referrals. All three services were offered in various formats (eg, in-house, referrals, education) by 51% and in-house only by 25% of practices. Practices with advanced practice providers were more likely to have a survivorship clinic (OR = 3.19, 95%CI 1.04-9.76). Practices with ≥30% Medicare patients (OR = 2.54, 95%CI 1.39-4.66) and more oncology providers (OR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.01-1.04) were more likely to have all three services in any format. Practices with ≥30% Medicare patients (OR = 3.41, 95%CI 1.50-7.77) and a survivorship clinic (OR = 2.84, 95%CI 1.57-5.14) were more likely to have all three services in-house. Conclusions Larger oncology practices and those caring for more survivors on Medicare provided more supportive services, resources, and/or referrals. Smaller practices and those without survivorship clinics may need strategies to address potential gaps in supportive services.