Cancer Survivors’ and Health Care Professionals’ Views on Managing Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Cancer: A Qualitative Study to Inform a Model of Care

AimPrevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer survivors is crucial to reduce the burden of comorbid CVD; however, little is known about preferred models of care to address CVD risks.This study examined Australian cancer survivors' and health care professionals' (HCPs) views on managing CVD risk in cancer survivors, exploring challenges, needs, and preferences for implementing a model of care. MethodQualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with survivors, HCPs, and non-government organisation representatives, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsFour themes were developed: awareness and communication of CVD risk; models of care; relative priority of CVD risk; and need for self-management support.Despite identifying the need for a model of care including self-management support, participants identified several barriers to CVD management in cancer, including limited survivor awareness of CVD risk in cancer; information overwhelm; focus on cancer treatment and immediate side effects; limitations experienced by HCPs (e.g., time, expertise); and limitations in accessing specialist/allied health services.Improvement in care was deemed to require coordination, multidisciplinary involvement, and capacity building, including leveraging existing services.Potential for a nurse-led clinical pathway was emphasised. ConclusionsManaging CVD risk in cancer survivors represents an important unmet need; meeting this need requires multilevel strategies for capacity-building and self-management support.Future research exploring the utility of models of care is warranted.