Race is a Strong Predictor of Receipt of a Written Survivorship Care Plan: Results from the National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of receipt of written documentation of follow up care and of cancer treatments and to examine the predictors of receipt of such written documentation. Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey was used to identify individuals 18 years or older with a history of cancer. Binary and multinomial logistic regression were used to investigate patient-level variables associated with receipt of written documentation of cancer treatment, written advice about follow-up care, or both written documents. Patient-level variables included in the analysis were age, gender, region of residence, race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, insurance coverage, cancer type, employment status, and psychosocial support. Of the 1185 responses to the questions used to access receipt of a SCP, the prevalence of any receipt of a written documentation was 68%, where 30% obtained written advice only and 8% were provided a written treatment summary only; only 31% received both. Non-white race, cancer type, and psychosocial services were associated with increased odds of receiving written documentation. Patient-level characteristics are associated with receipt of care plan documentation. Further work needs to investigate the interaction of provider and patient-level characteristics. Understanding patient-level characteristics associated with receipt of written documentation may help uncover strategies for improved survivorship care plan implementation.