Exploring the Relationship Between Patient Experiences of Breast Cancer Survivors and Follow-up Care
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Huang, Tzu-Hsin
Abstract
Objective: The five-year survival rate for female breast cancer patients in Taiwan has increased to more than 86% in recent years. Appropriate follow-up care is important for improving the future health of breast cancer survivors (BCSs). This research focuses on findings related to the cancer patients experience survey, the general compliance of breast cancer follow-ups with the NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines for follow-up care, and BCSs’ perspectives on the quality of their own follow-up care. Methods: This research used the questionnaire from the Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) 2014, a national postal survey of patients with cancer treated in England and section B of the Follow-up Care Use among Survivors (FOCUS) Survey. The survey questionnaire included evaluative questions that covered patient experience along the care pathway of patients with cancer, encompassing experience of presentation, diagnostic testing, treatment decisions, doctor and nurse communication, informational integration between hospital and community services after discharge, experience of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and outpatient follow-up care. Also, this research was a result of cooperation with both the Taiwan Breast Cancer Association and 12 hospitals in Taiwan. Data was gathered from March 14th to June 30th, 2015, and 405 responses were received by mail. Results: The CPES included two dimension: patient-centered care and shared decision-making and care planning. The more positive these two dimensions were in terms of seeking medical treatments, the lower the likelihood that the treatment met the NCCN breast cancer follow-up frequency guidelines. The seven dimensions of patient-centered care, timely diagnosis and treatment, communication, information and support, emotional support, shared decision-making and care planning, continuity of care and financial and work support also had a positive correlation with the objective quality of the BCSs’ follow-up care. Conclusion: Because most BCSs have cancer follow-up care, providing appropriate follow-up care tailored specifically for each patient and ensuring the frequency of follow-up care are important for improving health outcomes in BCSs. Overall, 71.27% of breast cancer survivors said that their follow-up care was excellent or very good over the past two years, which demonstrates that Taiwan''s cancer follow-up care quality is generally good. The CPES 7 dimensions all are important qualities which affect the standard of follow-up care; thus, a more patient-centered approach will be helpful in improving the overall quality of BCS’s follow-up care.
Subjects
Breast cancer
breast cancer survivors
frequency of breast cancer surveillance
follow-up care
SDGs
Type
thesis
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