title: Follow-up after curative treatment for colorectal cancer: longitudinal evaluation of patient initiated follow-up in the first 12 months.
abstract: To compare patient-triggered follow-up (PTFU) for curatively treated colorectal cancer against traditional outpatient follow-up (OPFU).
  
  
  
  Questionnaires were mailed at four time points over one-year post-treatment to two prospectively-recruited cohorts: A, patients entering follow-up and receiving OPFU pre-implementation of PTFU; B, patients entering follow-up (FU) and receiving either OPFU (B1) or PTFU (B2) post-implementation of PTFU. Bi-variate tests were used to compare patient characteristics and outcomes eight months after entering follow-up (generic and cancer-specific quality of life (QoL), satisfaction). Regression analysis explored associations between follow-up model and outcomes. Resource implications and costs of models were compared.
  
  
  
  Patients in Cohort B1 were significantly more likely to have received chemotherapy (p < 0.001), radiotherapy (p < 0.05), and reported poorer QoL (p = 0.001). Having a longstanding co-morbid condition was the most important determinant of QoL (p < 0.001); model of care was not significant. Patients were satisfied with their follow-up care regardless of model. Health service costs were higher in PTFU over the first year CONCLUSIONS: PTFU is acceptable to patients with colorectal cancer and can be considered to be a realistic alternative to OPFU for clinically suitable patients. The initial costs are higher due to provision of a self-management (SM) programme and remote surveillance. Further research is needed to establish long-term outcomes and costs.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK. Lbatehup@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batehup
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: School of Economics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK, Clinical Research Unit, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lowson
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology Consultancy Ltd., Staffordshire, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagland
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Nightingale Building, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, UK.|University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technology Enabled Health Research, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: The University of Nottingham, Executive Office, Trent Building, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corner
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Aftercare; Colorectal cancer; Follow-up; Patient triggered-follow-up; Remote surveillance