Background/Rationale
Survivors of breast and gynaecological cancers often face persistent psychological, physical, practical, and informational unmet needs following active treatment. Despite national and international survivorship care guidelines, access to structured and individualised survivorship services remains limited. This pilot project aimed to establish and evaluate a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic tailored to address these unmet needs in Southeast Queensland.
Methods
The clinic was implemented from October 2024, guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Seven-Step Evidence Implementation Framework. A hybrid service delivery model (in-person and video telehealth) was adopted to maximise accessibility. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and satisfaction surveys were utilised to assess patient needs and evaluate outcomes. Referrals were accepted from multiple Mater Health services in Southeast Queensland. A retrospective audit was conducted on 1 April 2025 to evaluate activity from 29 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Impact on Practice
Of 44 referrals, 22 patients were seen during the pilot period (68% with breast cancer; 32% with gynaecological cancer).
Discussion
This pilot demonstrates the feasibility and impact of an integrated, patient-centred women’s cancer survivorship model. PROMs effectively guided care planning and service delivery. Key lessons include the value of flexible care formats and multidisciplinary collaboration. Future directions include enhanced general practitioner engagement, expansion of psychosocial services, and continuation of video telehealth consultation to support scalability across Queensland.