Attachment 6 NCI Cover and Society Supporting Letters & FAQs_8 July 2008

Attachment 6
NCI Cover Letter, Society Support Letters &
FAQs

May 30, 2008
«Name»
«CompanyName»
«AddressLine1»
«AddressLine2»
«City», «State» «Zip»

Dear Dr. «LastName»:
We are writing to request your participation in a survey of physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices with
respect to post-treatment follow-up care of adult cancer survivors. Survey data will be used to examine
physicians’ needs relevant to the provision of follow-up care for cancer survivors and to improve the care
delivery experience of both physicians who provide survivors’ health care services and survivors who receive
such care.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the
American Cancer Society, is seeking to obtain information about the clinical experiences of 2,200 randomly
selected General Internists, Family Medicine physicians, Obstetrician-Gynecologists, and Medical Oncologists.
There are over 10 million survivors of cancer in the United States, yet little is known about how and where they
are treated after the acute phase of cancer treatment. We are interested in your views of how these individuals
are treated in your practice, and how treatment in the future might best be implemented. We will combine your
responses with those of other surveyed physicians, and use these data to publish publicly-available reports and
journal articles with the goal of informing health care policy and improving health care.
Completing the enclosed questionnaire should take no longer than 20 minutes, and space is left at the end should
you wish to provide comments. The information you provide is confidential. Providing the information is
voluntary; there are no penalties for not responding to the information collection as a whole or to any particular
questions. Your answers will be stored separately from your identity, and only aggregated findings will be
reported. A $50 check is enclosed as a token of our appreciation for your participation.
There are many competing demands on your time, but please take few minutes to complete this one-time survey
and return it in the addressed envelope provided. If you have questions or would prefer to complete your survey
by telephone with a researcher, please call to set up a time at 800-XXX-XXXX Ext XXXX, weekdays between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time; or e-mail [email protected]. If you have more general questions about
the study, please call Dr. Contact Person at NCI (301-XXX-XXXX or [email protected]), or Dr.
Caroline McLeod, Westat, (800-937-8281 ext. 2786 or [email protected]).
Your participation in this survey is both critical and much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your valuable
contribution to this important study.
Sincerely,

Dr. Noreen M. Aziz
Senior Program Director
Office of Cancer Survivorship
National Cancer Institute, NIH
Enclosures

Dr. Paul K. Han
Program Director
Outcomes Research Branch
National Cancer Institute, NIH

Office of the Executive Vice President
Ralph W. Hale, MD, FACOG
Telephone: 202/863-2525
Fax: 202/863-1643

January 2009

Dear Colleague:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, with support from the
American Cancer Society, is conducting a national survey of 2,200 primary care and medical
oncologists to examine post-treatment follow-up care of cancer survivors diagnosed with breast or
colorectal cancer. Little is known about the post-treatment follow up care and surveillance provided to
this population after the acute stage of cancer treatment is over. This important gap in knowledge
needs to be addressed since cancer survivors represent a fast growing population with potentially
unique and complex health care needs.
It is important that we obtain your perspective on this important topic, and I encourage you to
participate. Our contribution to a high response rate is vital to ensuring the validity of the findings.
Upon completion of the study, data will be analyzed and disseminated through public health
conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles. By completing the survey, you will be assisting the
NCI in its quality of care efforts, especially those relating to cancer survivors in the United States.
In conclusion, I encourage you to contribute your invaluable support by completing and returning the
enclosed survey. Your participation is critical to the continuation of the fight against cancer.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely

Ralph W. Hale, MD, FACOG
Executive Vice President

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS ● WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS
409 12th STREET SW WASHINGTON DC 20024-2188
MAILING ADDRESS: PO BOX 96920 WASHINGTON DC 20090-6920
202/638-5577

June 1, 2008 

Dear Colleague: 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, with support 
from the American Cancer Society, is conducting a national survey of 2,200 primary 
care and medical oncologists to examine post‐treatment follow‐up care of cancer 
survivors diagnosed with breast or colorectal cancer.  Little is known about the 
post‐treatment follow up care and surveillance provided to this population after the 
acute stage of cancer treatment is over. This important gap in knowledge needs to 
be addressed since cancer survivors represent a fast growing population with 
potentially unique and complex health care needs.  

It is important that we obtain your perspective on this important topic, and we 
encourage you to participate by filling out the enclosed survey.   Your contribution 
to a high response rate is vital to ensuring the validity of the findings.  Upon 
completion of the study, data will be analyzed and disseminated through public 
health conferences and peer‐reviewed journal articles.  By completing the survey, 
you will be assisting the NCI in its quality of care efforts, especially those relating to 
cancer survivors in the United States.   

Cancer survivorship is a key issue for all ASCO members and one that ASCO is 
addressing on several fronts.  We encourage you to contribute your invaluable 
support by completing and returning the survey.   

Thank you in advance.  

Sincerely 

Richard L. Schilsky, MD 

Allen S. Lichter, MD 
President, ASCO 

Chief Executive Officer, ASCO 

OFFICERS
Lisa V. Rubenstein, MD, MSPH
Los Angeles, CA
President
Nancy A. Rigotti, MD
Boston, MA
President-Elect
Eugene C. Rich, MD
Omaha, NE
Past-President
Jeffrey Jackson, MD, MPH
Washington, DC
Treasurer
Valerie E. Stone, MD, MPH
Boston, MA
Secretary
Monica L. Lypson, MD
Ann Arbor, MI.
Secretary-Elect
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Marshall H. Chin, MD, MPH
Chicago, IL
Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc
New Orleans, LA
Arthur G. Gomez, MD
Los Angeles, CA
Said A. Ibrahim, MD, MPH
Pittsburgh, PA
Laura L. Sessums, JD, MD
Washington, DC
Donna L. Washington, MD, MPH
Los Angeles, CA
EX-OFFICIO
Donald W. Brady, MD
Nashville, TN
Chair, Board of Regional
Leaders Workgroup
Martha S. Gerrity, MD, MPH, PhD
Portland, OR
Co-Editor
Journal of General
Internal Medicine

January 2009
Dear Colleague:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, with support
from the American Cancer Society, is conducting a national survey of 2,200 primary care
and medical oncologists in order to investigate physicians’ perspectives and practices
regarding the post-treatment follow-up care of cancer survivors diagnosed with breast or
colorectal cancer. Little is known about how care is provided to this population after the
acute stage of cancer treatment, even though cancer survivors represent a fast growing
population with potentially unique and complex health care needs.
It is important that NCI and ACS obtain your perspective on this important topic, and I
encourage you to participate. Your contribution to a high response rate is vital to
ensuring the validity of findings. Upon completion of the study, data will be analyzed
and disseminated through public health conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles.
By completing the survey, you will be assisting NCI in improving cancer-related
treatment in the United States.
In conclusion, I encourage you to contribute your invaluable support by completing and
returning the enclosed survey. Your participation is critical to the continuation of the
fight against cancer.
Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

William M. Tierney, MD
Indianapolis, IN
Co-Editor
Journal of General
Internal Medicine
Robert M. Centor, MD
Birmingham, AL
Editor, SGIM Forum
Frederick L. Brancati, MD, MHS
Baltimore, MD
President
Association of Chiefs of
General Internal Medicine
Hannah E. Shacter
St. Paul, Minnesota
Associate Member
Representative
Lyle Dennis
Domenic Ruscio
Cavarocchi-Ruscio-Dennis
Associates
(202) 484-1100
David Karlson, PhD
Washington, DC
Executive Director

Lisa V. Rubenstein, MD, MSPH
President, Society of General Internal Medicine

January 2009
Dear Colleague:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health, with support
from the American Cancer Society, is conducting a national survey of 2,200 primary care
and medical oncologists to examine post-treatment follow-up care of cancer survivors
diagnosed with breast or colorectal cancer. Little is known about the post-treatment
follow up care and surveillance provided to this population after the acute stage of cancer
treatment is over. This important gap in knowledge needs to be addressed since cancer
survivors represent a fast growing population with potentially unique and complex health
care needs.
It is important that your perspective on this important topic be obtained, and I encourage
you to participate. Your contribution to a high response rate is vital to ensuring the
validity of the findings. Upon completion of the study, data will be analyzed and
disseminated through public health conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles. By
completing the survey, you will be assisting the NCI in its quality of care efforts,
especially those relating to cancer survivors in the United States.
In conclusion, I encourage you to contribute your invaluable support by completing and
returning the enclosed survey. Your participation is critical to the continuation of the
fight against cancer.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely

Jim King, M.D., FAAFP
President

Survey of Physicians Attitudes Regarding the Care of Cancer Survivors (SPARCCS)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Who is sponsoring this study?
This survey is being sponsored by The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) and the American Cancer Society.
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this study is to identify the beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care
physicians and cancer specialists (i.e., medical oncologists) care of cancer survivors. The data
obtained from this study will inform the process of standardization of survivorship care practices;
augment the data collected in other cancer survivorship studies and monitor the progress being made
toward achieving NCI strategic goals of improving the quality of cancer care across the cancer control
continuum.
Why is this study being conducted?
One in three persons will experience cancer over their lifetime; ten million Americans are living with a
personal history of cancer; and one in five adult cancer survivors who worked before their diagnosis
have cancer-related limitations in their ability to work 1 to 5 years later.1 Psychological distress, sexual
dysfunction, infertility, weakened organ function, cosmetic changes, and limitations in mobility,
communication, and cognition are among the problems faced by some cancer survivors. The transition
from active cancer treatment to post-treatment care is crucial to our country’s long-term health. In
2005 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a report that described the essential components of
cancer survivorship care within a health care delivery system. They include the following: (a) prevent
cancers and other late effects; (b) monitor for new and recurring cancers and assess medical and
psychosocial late effects; (c) intervene for consequences of cancer and its treatment; and (d) coordinate
between specialists and primary care providers to ensure that all survivors’ health needs are met.
Are physicians required to participate in this study?
A nationally representative sample of 2,200 physicians in the specialties of Internal Medicine,
Pediatrics, Family Practice, Obstetrics/Gynecology and Medical Oncology were randomly selected
from a nation-wide database of physicians to receive a survey.
Participation is voluntary, and there are no penalties for not responding. However, high nonresponse
could affect the accuracy of results.
Are responses confidential?
All survey responses will be kept confidential, with each survey assigned an identification number.
The data file with names and numbers will be stored separately from all completed surveys and the
data file containing survey responses. Names will never be directly associated with responses. Data
from individual responses will be aggregated and reported in statistical form. Comments from
individual surveys may be thematically coded and reported in the aggregate. Some comments may be
quoted verbatim but without attribution to the individual making the comment.

How will the data be used?
Results of the survey will be used in:
o Publications in peer-reviewed journals;
o Presentations at national meetings; and
o Government reports on health care policy.
Data will also be used to provide survey analysis experience for post-doctoral fellows, and
instruments will be made available for use by other investigators researching similar issues.
Who do I contact for further information?
If you have questions about the study, please call 1-800-937-8281 x2786 toll-free to speak with Dr.
Caroline McLeod, the Project Director. Or, contact the Project Officers at the National Cancer
Institute:
Noreen M. Aziz, M.D, Ph.D., MPH
Senior Program Director
Office of Cancer Survivorship
National Cancer Institute
301-496-0598
[email protected]

Paul K. Han MD, MA, MPH
Program Director
Outcomes Research Branch
National Cancer Institute
301-594-6642
[email protected]