title: Aiding a reassertion of self: a qualitative study of the views and experiences of women with ovarian cancer receiving long-term nurse-led telephone follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the views and experiences of women following treatment for ovarian cancer who had received long-term (at least 3 years) nurse-led telephone follow-up. Exploring the long-term experiences of follow-up for women with ovarian cancer provides important information regarding the coping processes of cancer survivors that can inform the development of innovative and patient-centred approaches of cancer follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative study approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Eleven women were identified by a clinical nurse specialist as having received nurse-led telephone follow-up for a period of at least 3 years. These women were interviewed in person or over the telephone using a semi-structured interview schedule; interviews were audio-recorded and transcriptions were analysed using IPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurse-led telephone follow-up was felt to support a reassertion of self and a rejection of patient identity. Three core themes emerged regarding the positive impact of nurse-led telephone follow-up: 'Somebody was looking out for me' highlights the perception of increased psychosocial support; 'It's just reassurance' includes both the deep trust in the expertise of the nurse and the reassurance of the continued blood tests; and 'Time was never an issue' presents the perception of relaxed follow-up appointments with time to talk and the perceived practical benefits of this approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse-led telephone follow-up was broadly recommended for women following treatment for ovarian cancer, particularly for those later on in the survivorship trajectory when focus may move from biomedical aspects of cure to holistic approaches to well-being. Remote interventions which provide a perception of a consistent and constant source of medical and psychosocial support may support adaption to cancer survivorship by enabling a reassertion of self and a rejection of patient identity.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK, a.cox@surrey.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faithfull
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013689:Telephone