Patients' views of routine hospital follow-up: a qualitative study of women with breast cancer in remission.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the experience of specialist hospital follow-up among 109 women with breast cancer in remission.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews explored views of follow-up at an outpatient clinic.


RESULTS
Continuity of care and an unrushed consultation were considered to be both desirable and efficient. There were concerns that discontinuity led to a lack of personal and case familiarity and communication difficulties. Access to cancer expertise, the availability of diagnostic tests and specialist facilities were valued features of hospital follow-up, and further analysis indicated that this was particularly important in the early stages of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
A preference for continuity of care may suggest that GP follow-up would be preferred, but access to specialist services is valued and may be of particular importance during the early stages of follow-up. The diversity of patients' needs during follow-up must be recognised when formulating policy.
Adewuyi-Dalton
R
R
University of Oxford, Department of Primary Health Care, Institute of Health Sciences, UK.
Ziebland
S
S
Grunfeld
E
E
Hall
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013038:Specialization