Aims: Previous trials failed to identify beneficial effects of survivorship care plans (SCPs) in unselected survivor populations. However, SCPs may be beneficial for subgroups of survivors. Considering that individuals may respond differently to SCPs according to their information coping style, we aim to assess whether the impact of SCPs on patient reported outcomes is different in survivors with an information seeking coping style (‘monitoring’) versus survivors with an information avoiding coping style (‘blunting’).
Methods: In the ROGY Care Trial, twelve hospitals in the Netherlands were randomized to ‘SCP care’ or ‘usual care’. All newly diagnosed endometrial and ovarian cancer patients in the ‘SCP care’ arm received an SCP that was automatically generated by the oncology provider through the web-based Registrationsystem Oncological GYnaecology (ROGY). Outcomes (satisfaction with information provision and care, illness perceptions and health care use) were measured directly after initial treatment and after 6, 12 and 24 months. Information coping style was measured at 12 months after initial treatment.
Results: Among patients with a ‘monitoring’ coping style (N=123), those in the ‘SCP care’ arm reported higher satisfaction with information provision (73.9 vs. 63.9, p=0.04) and care (74.5 vs. 69.2, p=0.03) compared to those in the ‘usual care’ arm. Among patients with a ‘blunting’ coping style (N=102), those in the ‘SCP care’ arm reported a higher impact of the disease on life (5.0 vs 4.5, p=0.02) and a higher emotional impact of the disease (5.4 vs. 4.2, p=0.01) compared to those in the ‘usual care’ arm.
Conclusions: Information coping style moderates the impact of SCPs in gynaecological cancer patients. SCPs may be beneficial for patients who desire information about their disease, while they may be less beneficial and perhaps even harmful for patients who avoid medical information, suggesting a need for tailored SCP provision to efficiently and effectively improve survivorship care.