Kelly E Brennan1, Stephen F Hall2,3,4, John Yoo5, Susan L Rohland4, Julie Theurer5,6,7, Yingwei Peng8, Deb Feldman-Stewart3,4. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 2. Department of Otolaryngology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 3. Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 4. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 5. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. 6. School of Communication, Sciences and Disorders, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. 7. Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. 8. Department of Public Health, Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The experience of a cancer diagnosis and receiving treatment can have profound impacts on health and subsequently patients may require significant support. Often, these needs are not identified or addressed. Given that less is known about the follow-up requirements for head and neck cancer patients, this study aimed to describe their follow-up needs and preferences. METHODS: In Ontario, Canada from 2012-2014, 175 patients completed a questionnaire at an appointment one year after treatment. To identify associations between characteristics and follow-up needs, bivariate analyses and ordinal logistic regression models were employed. RESULTS: A diversity of follow-up requirements was found. The most commonly reported follow-up needs were having imaging tests performed (66%), receiving information on treatment side effects (84%) and prognosis details (95%). Many patients experienced an improvement in their health (79%) but notably, not all. Characteristics such as psychosocial and well-being measures (functional status, anxiety, fear of recurrence, quality of life), attitudes towards follow-up (reassurance, communication), demographics (age, sex, marital status), and stage of disease predicted needs and preferences for follow-up care (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While awaiting top-level evidence, this work demonstrates the variation in needs and supports the identification of patients with higher follow-up requirements by screening for well-being and enquiring about expectations in follow-up care.
OBJECTIVE: The experience of a cancer diagnosis and receiving treatment can have profound impacts on health and subsequently patients may require significant support. Often, these needs are not identified or addressed. Given that less is known about the follow-up requirements for head and neck cancerpatients, this study aimed to describe their follow-up needs and preferences. METHODS: In Ontario, Canada from 2012-2014, 175 patients completed a questionnaire at an appointment one year after treatment. To identify associations between characteristics and follow-up needs, bivariate analyses and ordinal logistic regression models were employed. RESULTS: A diversity of follow-up requirements was found. The most commonly reported follow-up needs were having imaging tests performed (66%), receiving information on treatment side effects (84%) and prognosis details (95%). Many patients experienced an improvement in their health (79%) but notably, not all. Characteristics such as psychosocial and well-being measures (functional status, anxiety, fear of recurrence, quality of life), attitudes towards follow-up (reassurance, communication), demographics (age, sex, marital status), and stage of disease predicted needs and preferences for follow-up care (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While awaiting top-level evidence, this work demonstrates the variation in needs and supports the identification of patients with higher follow-up requirements by screening for well-being and enquiring about expectations in follow-up care.
Authors: Petr Szturz; Carl Van Laer; Christian Simon; Dirk Van Gestel; Jean Bourhis; Jan B Vermorken Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2020-05-06 Impact factor: 6.244