[Personal health contact systems for cancer patients in Danish hospital wards].
BACKGROUND
We examined personal health contact systems for cancer patients in Danish hospital wards and investigated whether there is a relation between patients' experience of having a personal health contact and the presence of a health contact system.


METHODS
The personal health contact systems were examined by means of a questionnaire survey. Data from the questionnaire were combined with data from an earlier questionnaire study on cancer patients' needs to examine the relation between patients' experience of having a personal health contact and the presence of a health contact system.


RESULTS
The majority of hospital wards included in the study had introduced a personal health contact system, but the time of implementation and specific organization of the systems vary. We found a statistically significant relation between the presence of personal health contact systems and patients' experience of having a personal health contact, but it was weak.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most hospital wards have introduced personal health contact systems, their actual impact has been limited.
Faber
Mette Tuxen
MT
Kobenhavns Universitet, Institut for Folkesundhedsvidenskab, Afdeling for Sundhedstjenesteforskning, København Ø, Denmark. tuxenfaber@gmail.com
Pedersen
Camilla
C
Grønvold
Mogens
M
D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce