BACKGROUND: After surgical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, most patients will develop recurrence within 2 years. Intense follow-up is often recommended; however, its impact on survival is unknown. Patient and clinician attitudes towards follow-up were qualitatively assessed along with the perceived benefits and challenges. METHODS: A semi-structured interview guide was developed. Purposive sampling identified patients who were in active surveillance or had developed recurrence. Clinicians involved in patient care were also interviewed. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached and themes were derived using standard qualitative methods. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients and seven clinicians were interviewed. Patient themes included a limited understanding of disease prognosis, a desire for reassurance, a desire to know if and when recurrence occurred and minimal difficulties with follow-up. Clinician themes included expectation that patients are aware of the recurrence risk, a desire to provide reassurance, support for intense follow-up and perceived patient challenges in follow-up. Overall, the dominant theme was one of disconnect between patients and clinicians in the understanding of the disease and its prognosis. DISCUSSION: Patients have an intense need for reassurance and obtain this through follow-up appointments with their oncologists. Consequently, they express few difficulties with the process. Clinicians recognize this desire for reassurance. Patients' understanding and expectations contrast starkly with clinicians' perspectives regarding prognosis.
BACKGROUND: After surgical resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, most patients will develop recurrence within 2 years. Intense follow-up is often recommended; however, its impact on survival is unknown. Patient and clinician attitudes towards follow-up were qualitatively assessed along with the perceived benefits and challenges. METHODS: A semi-structured interview guide was developed. Purposive sampling identified patients who were in active surveillance or had developed recurrence. Clinicians involved in patient care were also interviewed. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached and themes were derived using standard qualitative methods. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients and seven clinicians were interviewed. Patient themes included a limited understanding of disease prognosis, a desire for reassurance, a desire to know if and when recurrence occurred and minimal difficulties with follow-up. Clinician themes included expectation that patients are aware of the recurrence risk, a desire to provide reassurance, support for intense follow-up and perceived patient challenges in follow-up. Overall, the dominant theme was one of disconnect between patients and clinicians in the understanding of the disease and its prognosis. DISCUSSION: Patients have an intense need for reassurance and obtain this through follow-up appointments with their oncologists. Consequently, they express few difficulties with the process. Clinicians recognize this desire for reassurance. Patients' understanding and expectations contrast starkly with clinicians' perspectives regarding prognosis.
Authors: Gery P Guy; Donatus U Ekwueme; K Robin Yabroff; Emily C Dowling; Chunyu Li; Juan L Rodriguez; Janet S de Moor; Katherine S Virgo Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2013-09-16 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Sean P Cleary; Robert Gryfe; Maha Guindi; Paul Greig; Lloyd Smith; Robert Mackenzie; Steven Strasberg; Sherif Hanna; Bryce Taylor; Bernard Langer; Steven Gallinger Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Melissa A Frick; Carolyn C Vachani; Margaret K Hampshire; Christina Bach; Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski; James M Metz; Christine E Hill-Kayser Journal: J Gastrointest Oncol Date: 2017-10
Authors: Lisa M Lowenstein; Robert J Volk; Amanda Cuddy; Andrea P Hempstead; Y Nancy You; Katherine Van Loon; Stefanos Millas; Jeffrey A Meyerhardt; Patrick Gavin; George J Chang Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-08-15 Impact factor: 2.692