Aim: A Survivorship Care Plan (SCP) is prepared for all cancer survivors at the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre (SCSC). The SCP is a comprehensive, individualised document including a cancer treatment summary, surveillance plan, and recommendations from all members of the multidisciplinary team. We aimed to evaluate how culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) cancer survivors at the SCSC view and use their SCPs.
Methods: We used a qualitative study design and conducted semi-structured interviews with CALD survivors who attended their initial SCSC clinic from 3 months to 5 years ago. Data were analysed thematically with an inductive, interpretive approach and 15% of interviews were cross coded by two researchers to ensure rigor.
Results: Overall, 25 survivors were invited to participate and 20 interviews completed. Of participants, 15 were male and 5 female, with a mean age 59 (range 41-76) years, from diverse cultural backgrounds (11 Chinese, 2 Korean, 2 Filipino, 1 Macedonian, 1 Sri Lankan, 1 Tongan, 1 Lebanese, 1 Greek). 40% of participants required an interpreter in clinic.
Qualitative interviews identified a meta-theme of ‘SCP as a tool’, supported by five distinct themes: 1) Delivery of SCP; 2) Comprehensibility of SCP; 3) SCP content; 4) Support for using SCP; 5) Perceived SCP usefulness.
CALD survivors’ use of the SCPs as a tool were influenced by a variety of factors: whether the SCP was received in a timely manner, whether they could comprehend it, and whether they had support to use it. Many participants (60%) stated they did not receive their SCPs, suggesting its use as a tool was impeded by inconsistent delivery.
Conclusion: Effective use of the SCP in CALD populations can be encouraged by improving its timely delivery and ensuring CALD survivors have adequate support in comprehending its contents, and providing SCP in survivors’ preferred language(s).