Continuity of care, follow-up care, and outcomes among breast cancer survivors
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal Volume
16
Journal Issue
17
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
This retrospective cohort study examined the effects of care continuity on the utilization of follow-up services and outcome of breast cancer patients (stages I-III) in the post-treatment phase of care. Propensity score matching and generalized estimation equations were used in the analysis of data obtained from national longitudinal databases. The continuity of care index (COCI) was calculated separately for primary care physicians (PCP) and oncologists. Our results revealed that breast cancer survivors with a higher oncology COCI were more likely than those with a lower oncology COCI to use mammography or breast ultrasound during the follow-up period (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.19-1.32; OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.18; respectively). In terms of health outcomes, a higher oncology COCI was associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71- 0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95). A higher PCP COCI was also associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70-0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68-0.82). Overall, this study determined that ambulatory care continuity is positively associated with the likelihood of using recommended follow-up care services and negatively associated with adverse health events among breast cancer survivors. ? 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Care continuity; Continuity of care; Emergency department use; Follow-up care; Health outcome; Hospitalization; Surveillance; Survivors
SDGs
Other Subjects
cancer; chemotherapy; cohort analysis; health care; hospital sector; public health; adult; aged; ambulatory care; Article; breast cancer; cancer survivor; cohort analysis; echomammography; emergency care; female; follow up; general practitioner; health care utilization; hospitalization; human; major clinical study; mammography; middle aged; oncologist; patient care; retrospective study; Taiwan; aftercare; breast tumor; cancer survivor; patient care; treatment outcome; Adult; Aftercare; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Cancer Survivors; Cohort Studies; Continuity of Patient Care; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Taiwan; Treatment Outcome
Publisher
MDPI AG
Type
journal article