Framing Survivorship As a Public Health Priority

CDC has proposed a framework and public health strategies to address cancer survivors’ needs.

National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies¹

The National Action Plan represents the combined effort of almost 100 experts in cancer survivorship and public health. It identifies and prioritizes cancer survivorship needs and proposes strategies for addressing those needs within four core public health domains: surveillance and applied research; communication, education, and training; programs, policies, and infrastructure; and access to quality care and services.

Public Health Action Model for Cancer Survivorship²

The Public Health Action Model for Cancer Survivorship is an integrative framework that combines the National Action Plan with the social ecological model to demonstrate how interaction among various levels of society can promote better outcomes for survivors.

The Public Health Action Model for Cancer Survivorship is based on the foundation principles of behavioral change, dissemination and implementation, and evaluation. It works on five levels: the personal level (individual survivors), as well as interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels. Levers include access to high-quality medical care and services; surveillance and applied research; programs, policies, and infrastructure; and communication, education, and training. Its drivers are collaborative, evidence-based, culturally aware, and innovative. Its goal is to meet the Healthy People 2020 objectives regarding cancer survivors’ mental and physical health and the proportion of survivors who live five years or longer after diagnosis.

2015 American Journal of Preventive Medicine Cancer Survivorship Supplement^{2 3 4 5}

In a special supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine entitled “Addressing Cancer Survivorship Through Public Health Research, Surveillance, and Programs,” 12 articles examine the health status and needs of cancer survivors and explore the public health approach used to meet survivors’ needs. Select articles describe the ongoing work of CDC and its partners in cancer survivorship.

References

¹Smith JL, Pollack LA, Rodriguez JL, Hawkins NA, Smith T, Rechis R, Miller A, Willis A, Miller H, Hall IJ, Fairley TL, Stone-Wiggins B. Assessment of the status of a National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship in the USA. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2013;7(3):425–438.

²Moore AR, Buchanan ND, Fairley TL, Smith JL. The public health action model for cancer survivorship. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015;49(6):S470–S476.

³Buchanan ND, Houston K, Richardson LC. The essential role of public health in preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health of cancer survivors. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015;49(6):S467–S469.

⁴Smith JL, Hall I. Advancing health equity in cancer survivorship: opportunities for public health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015;49(6):S477–S482.

⁵White MC, Hayes N, Richardson LC. Public health’s future role in cancer survivorship. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2015;49(6):S550–S553.