title: The Perceptions and Expectations of Older Women in the Establishment of the Senior Women's Breast Cancer Clinic (SWBCC): a Needs Assessment Study.
abstract: This study explored older women's perceptions and expectations of the prospective Senior Women's Breast Cancer Clinic (SWBCC) at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre (SOCC) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In our previous studies, older breast cancer patients had expressed a greater need for informational, decisional, and post-treatment support. This study also assessed women's perspectives on the involvement of geriatricians and incorporation of geriatric assessment in their cancer care. Twelve breast cancer patients aged 68 years or older who were treated at the SOCC participated in the study. We recorded and transcribed 11 interviews and analyzed them using qualitative thematic analysis methods to identify major themes; one interview was excluded due to recording defect. Eight major themes were identified: transportation issues, service, communication between patient and healthcare professionals, communication between healthcare professionals, support during treatment, support after treatment, informational resources, and patient suggestions. Important issues were raised by participants, such as difficulties in arranging transportation to the clinic, barriers in accessing family physician service, and communication breakdown that result in treatment delay and unaddressed complications. In conclusion, there were important gaps in the cancer care of older women with breast cancer that could be detected earlier and better addressed in the new multidisciplinary SWBCC. The participating women were highly supportive of the initiative and made several suggestions on how the clinic could better accommodate their specific needs during and after breast cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tjong
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menjak
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Rajin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leahey
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bristow
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. ewa.szumacher@sunnybrook.ca.|Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. ewa.szumacher@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szumacher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009864:Ontario; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Breast cancer; Geriatric oncology; Needs assessment; Older women; Specialized clinic