Breast survivor cancer symptoms: A comparison of physicians’ consultation records and nurse-led survivorship care plans

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Survivorship care plans (SCPs) have been used to address ongoing health prob-lems associated with the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage breast cancer. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to deter-mine whether nurse-led consultations using SCPs, as compared with a standard medical consultation, identify more side effects and supportive care needs and lead to appropriate referral patterns. METHODS: The study audited 160 retrospective medical clinic and nursing SCP records in a sample of patients receiving treatment for early-stage breast cancer at a tertiary-level breast service in Australia. FINDINGS: Breast care nurses (BCNs) undertaking SCPs at a nurse-led consultation ..