Poster Presentation 2025 National Cancer Survivorship Conference

Care delivery and research priorities for multimorbidity management in cancer: a Delphi study of Australian cancer survivors, clinicians, and researchers (#163)

Rebecca L Venchiarutti 1 2 , Haryana Dhillon 3 , Carolyn Ee 1 4 5 , Nicolas H Hart 5 6 7 8 9 , Michael Jefford 10 11 12 , Bogda Koczwara 13 14
  1. Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Missenden Road, NSW, Australia
  2. Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  3. The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  4. Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
  5. Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  6. Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  7. University of Technology Sydney, Moore Park, NSW, Australia
  8. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
  9. Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  10. Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  11. Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  12. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  13. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  14. Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Aims

Multimorbidity in people with cancer (the presence of least one other chronic condition in addition to cancer) is common. The aim of this study was to identify priorities for care delivery and research for cancer survivors with multimorbidity in the Australian setting.

 

Methods

A Delphi consensus process was conducted with Australian health professionals, cancer survivors with lived experience of multimorbidity, and researchers. Elements of multimorbidity care and research were identified from Australia’s National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, a literature review, and expert input. In Round 1, participants were asked to rate the importance of the elements (18 principles, 9 enablers, and 4 objectives) as they related to i) care delivery and ii) research. In Round 2, new elements were rated, and all elements were ranked in terms of importance.

 

Results

In Round 1, all elements reached consensus for care delivery, however three principles and one enabler did not reach consensus for research and were not included in Round 2. Based on participant suggestions, one new principle and two new enablers were added, which all reached consensus in Round 2. At the end of the Delphi process, a total of 19 principles, 10 enablers, and 4 objectives reached consensus and were included under care delivery. Fourteen principles, 9 enablers, and 4 objectives reached consensus and were included under research. The principles of ‘survivorship’ and ‘self-management’ were ranked highest under care delivery, and ‘peer support’ and ‘technology’ were ranked as the most important enablers. For research, ‘survivorship’ and ‘coordinated care’ were the most important principles, and ‘peer support’ and ‘education’ were the most important enablers.

 

Conclusions

While many elements of chronic disease management apply to both the general population and cancer survivors, some elements are unique to people with cancer and warrant consideration when managing multimorbidity in this population.