Wu J, et al. - Researchers present the findings from a national survey assessing what factors predicted the receipt of follow-up instructions at completion of cancer treatment among women with breast and gynecologic cancers (cervical, endometrial, ovarian) in the US, and if the factors differed by cancer type. They found less frequent receipt of follow-up instructions by gynecologic cancer patients vs breast cancer patients. They noted a difference in the receipt of follow-up instructions based on demographic and lifestyle factors. This research highlighted the need for public health initiatives to increase the occurrence of follow-up instructions for gynecologic cancer patients, which can potentially increase the rate of follow-up and improve long-term outcomes.

Methods

• Researchers used data from the “Cancer Survivorship” module of the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to design a cross-sectional study.
• They created logistic regression models to determine characteristics related to receipt of follow-up care instructions, and stratified by models by cancer type to assess differences in factors.

Results

• This study included 954 (66%) women with breast cancer and 492 (34%) women with gynecologic cancers.
• Relative to women with breast cancer, 63% lower odds (0.37 [0.25–0.55]) of getting follow-up instructions was reported in women treated for gynecologic cancer, even after adjustment.
• Among breast cancer patients, lower odds of receiving follow-up instructions (0.53[0.31–0.92]) was reported in those with an income < $25,000 per year, while higher odds of receiving follow-up instructions (1.91 [1.15–3.18]) was observed in patients with high BMI (BMI ≥30 kg/m²).
• Findings revealed that, among gynecologic cancer patients, higher odds of receiving follow-up instructions were seen in those diagnosed at 51–75 years vs those diagnosed at ≤ 50 years (2.54 [1.13–5.70]).