title: Development of a patient-administered self-assessment tool (SATp) for follow-up of colorectal cancer patients in general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) may result in physical, social, and psychological needs that affect patients' quality of life post-treatment. A comprehensive assessment should be conducted to identify these needs in CRC patients post treatment, however, there is a lack of tools and processes available in general practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to develop a patient-completed needs screening tool that identifies potentially unmet physical, psychological, and social needs in CRC and facilitates consultation with a general practitioner (GP) to address these needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The development of the self-assessment tool for patients (SATp) included a review of the literature; face and content validity with reference to an expert panel; psychometric testing including readability, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability; and usability in clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SATp contains 25 questions. The tool had internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.70-0.97), readability (reading ease 82.5%), and test-retest reliability (kappa 0.689-1.000). A total of 66 patients piloted the SATp. Participants were on average 69.2 (SD 9.9) years old and had a median follow-up period of 26.7 months. The SATp identified a total of 547 needs (median 7 needs/per patient; IQR [3-12.25]). Needs were categorised into social (175[32%]), psychological (175[32%]), and physical (197[36%]) domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SATp is a reliable self-assessment tool useful for identifying CRC patient needs. Further testing of this tool for validity and usability is underway.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, Australia 6845. I.ngune@curtin.edu.au imarigu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ngune
authors.affiliation: Health Innovation (Chronic Diseases) Curtin University, Medical Education, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Moyez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiwa
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Science, Seafood &Health (CoESSH) Curtin University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy Curtin University, School of Pharmacy, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work Curtin University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bentley, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Surgery, Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Perth, 6009, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hodder
authors.affiliation: Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital,Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, Perth, 6009, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Entriken