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Patients' and healthcare professionals' views of cancer follow-up: systematic review

Lewis, Ruth Ann, Neal, Richard D., Hendry, Maggie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6436-7771, France, Barbara, Williams, Nefyn Howard, Russell, Daphne, Hughes, Dyfrig A., Russell, Ian, Stuart, Nicholas S. A., Weller, David and Wilkinson, Clare Elizabeth 2009. Patients' and healthcare professionals' views of cancer follow-up: systematic review. British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) 59 (564) , e248-e259. 10.3399/bjgp09X453576

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Abstract

Background Cancer follow-up places a significant burden on hospital outpatient clinics. There are increasing calls to develop alternative models of provision. Aim To undertake a systematic review of qualitative studies examining patients' and healthcare professionals' views about cancer follow-up. Design of study Systematic review. Setting Primary and secondary care. Method Comprehensive literature searches included: 19 electronic databases, online trial registries, conference proceedings, and bibliographies of included studies. Eligible studies included qualitative studies examining patients' and healthcare professionals' views of cancer follow-up. Studies of patients with any type of cancer, considered free of active disease, or no longer receiving active treatment were included. Findings were synthesised using thematic analysis. Results Nineteen studies were included; seven were linked to randomised controlled trials. Eight studies examined the views of healthcare professionals (four of which included GPs) and 16 examined the views of patients. Twelve descriptive themes were identified, from which 12 perceived implications for practice were derived. Most themes related to conventional follow-up in secondary care. Some views concerning other models of care were based on participants' ideas, rather than experiences. Conclusion Patients' main concern is recurrent disease, and they find regular follow-up, expertise of specialists, and quick access to tests reassuring. Information regarding the effectiveness of follow-up is not given to patients who also have unmet information needs, which would help them to cope and be more involved. Continuity of care, unhurried consultations, and psychosocial support are important, but sometimes lacking in secondary care. GPs are thought to be unwilling and to have insufficient time and expertise to conduct follow-up.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Medicine
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
Uncontrolled Keywords: long-term care, neoplasms, oncologic nursing, outpatients, primary health care, systematic review
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
ISSN: 0960-1643
Last Modified: 06 Jul 2023 01:35
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/29498

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