Cancer survivorship programs and care delivery models for cancer survivors’ transition in South Korea: A scoping review

Abstract

Purpose This scoping review aimed to identify unmet healthcare needs in cancer survivors after cancer treatment and provide an overview of evidence on their transitional care in Korea. Methods Studies reporting supportive care interventions, care delivery models, survival experience post-treatment, and factors affecting the health status of Korean cancer survivors were searched in Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, OvidEmbase, Cochrane CENTRAL, KoreaMed, and RISS in January 2021. Extracted data were subjected to descriptive analysis of the contextual data and quantitative analysis using appropriate descriptive statistics (review protocol registration number: osf.io/4mfzu/). Results Twenty-nine articles were included. Two models of after-care delivery were identified: the shared care model and the adapted chronic care model. Six studies confirmed that cancer survivors needed social support and stress interventions after treatment to address their multiple physical, social, and emotional difficulties as they progressed through the survival stages. Additionally, nine studies reported that cancer survivors identified unmet needs and needed supportive care, physical therapy, and psychosocial therapy. Conclusion This review explored available evidence and knowledge gaps in research to provide insights into Korean cancer survivorship care. The findings suggest that efforts to enhance the cancer survivorship care approach, such as a comprehensive care plan and ongoing delivery of survivorship care led by health professionals, are required to address cancer survivors’ unmet care needs during transitional care post-treatment in Korea.