Poster Presentation 2025 National Cancer Survivorship Conference

Enhancing the knowledge, confidence, and capability of health professionals to deliver survivorship care across Victoria (#85)

Tracey Mander 1 , Tegan Nash 1 , Rebecca McIntosh 1 , Julie Symons 2 , Jane Auchettle 2 , Cheryl Martin 2 , Justine Carder 2 , Liz Simkiss 3 , Kathy Quade 2 , Helana Kelly 1 , Michael Jefford 1 4 5
  1. Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. Victorian Integrated Cancer Services, Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria
  3. Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Centre for Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Background

Between 2022 - 2024 the Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) and the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) partnered on a project to improve survivorship care. It had three goals, all with a statewide focus, to: (1) implement survivorship policy; (2) improve survivorship care delivery at hospital pilot sites; and (3) build knowledge, confidence and capability in survivorship care. Here, we focus on the third goal.

Method

A peer group was established with representatives from ACSC and each VICS to support all goals. Peer group meetings enabled ACSC staff to upskill VICS staff in survivorship principles and facilitated peer-to-peer learning. To support goal 3, the peer group developed educational resources (including videos, publications and Q+A sessions) for pilot site health professionals (HP), focusing on cancer survivorship and quality improvement approaches. Non-ACSC peer group members were surveyed about their experience with all project goals. Pilot site HP were surveyed about knowledge, confidence and capacity to deliver survivorship care, and awareness of resources. 

Results

All 11 peer group members responded. The majority agreed or strongly agreed that “my overall knowledge of cancer survivorship care has improved” (82%, 9/11), “my confidence in supporting my health services has improved” (82%, 9/11), and “my capability in supporting my health services has improved” (73%, 8/11).

33/62 (53% response) completed the HP survey, 76% (25/33) with > 5 years’ cancer experience. 89% (24/27) agreed/strongly agreed “my awareness of survivorship resources and services has improved”. There was improved knowledge 59% (16/27), confidence 52% (14/27), and capability 56% (15/27). There was high existing knowledge, confidence and capability in those who did not report improvement. 

Conclusion

The VICS-ACSC collaboration achieved its goal of improving knowledge, confidence, and capability in VICS and HP staff. The peer group has been sustained beyond project completion. This approach to improving survivorship care could be considered by other jurisdictions.