Pilot Study of a Risk-stratified Model of Care for Cancer Survivorship: Patient Reported and Health Economic Outcomes 

Research Summary

Cancer survivors are at higher risk of poorer physical, psychological and social outcomes after diagnosis of and treatment for cancer. Many cancer organisations recommend risk-stratified models of care for cancer survivors. In risk-stratified models of care, cancer survivors are assessed as low-, moderate- or high-risk, and are provided tailored follow-up care depending on how much support they need in the survivorship phase after their initial cancer treatment. However, there is limited evidence to show that this risk-stratified approach is beneficial for patients and health care systems. 

The aim of this pilot project is to determine the proportions of patients classified as low-, medium- or high-risk in a risk-stratified model of care.
The project will study cancer survivors who have completed treatment for early breast and digestive tract cancers. The project will collect data from patients about quality of life, unmet needs and direct and indirect costs of cancer survivorship, using surveys over 12 months from the time of completing cancer treatment. We will determine health system costs using routinely collected data on government-subsidised health services and medicines such as Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and hospital admission data.
  
The outcomes of this project will guide a wider roll-out of risk-stratified models of care for survivors of all types of cancers and at different clinical sites.