Follow-up in women with breast cancer: the patients' perspective

We surveyed the opinions of patients on routine follow-up for early breast cancer to assess their satisfaction with current breast cancer follow-up arrangements, establish the issues that are important to patients in this setting and to assess their opinions on different models of care in breast can...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Breast (Edinburgh) 2002-06, Vol.11 (3), p.257-261
Main Authors: Renton, J.P., Twelves, C.J., Yuille, F.A.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We surveyed the opinions of patients on routine follow-up for early breast cancer to assess their satisfaction with current breast cancer follow-up arrangements, establish the issues that are important to patients in this setting and to assess their opinions on different models of care in breast cancer follow-up. A self-completion questionnaire was issued to 134 women attending an outpatient breast cancer follow-up clinic at a central teaching hospital in Glasgow. Most women (84%) considered follow-up ‘important’ and 90% were satisfied with current follow-up practice. Almost all patients (91%) were content with both the current frequency and duration of their appointments. Risk of recurrence and effects of treatment were considered the most important topics for discussion. Two-thirds of patients felt it was important to see the same member of staff at each follow-up appointment. The majority (64%) would have been satisfied with a nurse-led system of follow-up, whereas only 38% would be happy with General Practitioner-led care. Although patients are generally satisfied with current follow-up arrangements, most would accept the involvement of specialist nurses in conjunction with a consultant.
ISSN:0960-9776
1532-3080
DOI:10.1054/brst.2002.0411