title: Effect of Remote Internet Follow-Up on Postradiotherapy Compliance Among Patients with Esophageal Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To explore the effects of using remote Internet follow-up on postradiotherapy compliance with medical advice provided to patients with esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1 and August 1, 2013, in total, 128 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer treated with radiotherapy were randomly assigned to either an observation group (n=64) or a control group (n=64). The control group received routine outpatient follow-up, whereas the observation group received additional remote Internet follow-up for 6 months after discharge from the hospital. The treatment effects and compliance were investigated using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 months and 6 months after discharge, patients in the observation group had sought significantly more consultations and undergone more periodic re-examinations than patients in the control group (all p<0.001). Furthermore, both the disease-free survival rate and the symptom reduction rate were significantly higher in the observation group compared with the control group (all p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remote Internet follow-up is an easy and fast method for improving postradiotherapy compliance with medical instructions and promoting normalization among patients with esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, China .|2 Modern Education Technology Center, Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China .
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University , Hefei, China .
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, China .|4 School of Management, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou, China .
authors.forename: Zhongsheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: compliance; esophageal cancer; follow-up; radiotherapy; remote Internet; telemedicine