title: Professionals' and patients' views of routine follow-up: a questionnaire survey.
abstract: Traditionally, women who have been treated for a gynecological cancer have undergone long-term follow-up by hospital doctors. Recently, there has been interest in alternative models of follow-up, including nurse-based review. The project compares patients' and professionals' views of follow-up. A questionnaire was completed by 96 women attending routine follow-up clinics and by 32 professionals involved in delivering follow-up. A large majority of women (82/96, 92%) and professionals (25/34, 73%) thought that follow-up should be provided by a hospital doctor. However, professionals were more likely to think that specialist nurses and general practitioners should be involved in the provision of follow-up (P < 0.01). Professionals thought that the most important part of the follow-up visit was the consultation, whereas women thought it was the examination (P < 0.001). Women thought that detection of recurrence was the most important reason for continuing surveillance, whereas professionals regarded addressing patients' concerns as the primary reason for follow-up (P < 0.001). We conclude that the views of women undergoing follow-up after gynecological cancer differ significantly from the professionals providing follow-up care. These views must be considered when developing alternative follow-up strategies.
authors.affiliation: Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, England. fiona.kew@ghnt.nhs.uk
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Kew
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Galaal
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manderville
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verleye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires