title: Professionals' opinion on follow-up in breast cancer patients; perceived purpose and influence of patients' risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide insight into professionals' opinions on breast cancer follow-up to facilitate implementation of new follow-up strategies. The study focuses on current practice, purpose and perceived effects, and preferred frequency and duration of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 29-item questionnaire on professionals' demographics, current practice, opinion on the current guideline, preferences in frequency and duration of tailored follow-up, and the purpose and perceived effects of follow-up was sent to 633 Dutch professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current national guideline is followed by 81% of respondents. All different specialists are involved in follow-up. Sixty-nine percent of respondents' report nurse practitioners to be involved in follow-up. When asked for tailored follow-up, professionals indicate more factors for increased follow-up (age<40 years, pT3-4 tumour, pN2-3, treatment related morbidity, and psychosocial support), than for reduced schedules (age >70 years and DCIS histology). Alternative forms of follow-up are not endorsed by >90% of respondents. Detection of a new primary tumour of the breast is considered the most important purpose of follow-up (98%), 57% still indicates detecting metastases as a goal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Professionals tend towards longer and more intensive follow-up than the current guideline for a large group of patients. Limitations and developments in follow-up need to be considered to facilitate alternative follow-up strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. m.van_hezewijk@lumc.nl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Hezewijk
authors.forename: E T M
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Hille
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.forename: C A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marijnen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stiggelbout
authors.forename: C J H
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van de Velde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires