Development and evaluation of a holistic surgical head and neck cancer post-treatment follow-up clinic using touchscreen technology – feasibility study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development and evaluation of a holistic surgical head and neck cancer post-treatment follow-up clinic using touchscreen technology – feasibility study

AU - Semple, Cherith

AU - Lannon, Declan

AU - Qudairat, Eiad

AU - McCaughan, Eilis

AU - McCormac, Robert

N1 - Compliant in UIR; evidence uploaded to 'Other files'

PY - 2018/3/31

Y1 - 2018/3/31

N2 - The efficacy of traditional follow-up care is being challenged, as cancer survivors’ supportive and psychological needs are often neither identified, nor addressed. This study’s aim was to develop a holistic surgical follow-up clinic for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were participants completed a disease-specific HRQOL tool (UWQOLv4) and item prompt list (PCI) on a touchscreen computer. Information generated was used to focus the consultation on patient’s identified needs and concerns. By means of a prospective non-randomized, pre-test post-test design, this follow-up clinic was evaluated using the Patient Enablement Instrument and Patient Content Checklist. Feasibility was explored from the patient perspective (satisfaction survey) and clinician perspective (qualitative interview). Forty-four consecutive patients were recruited. Findings demonstrating five of the eight topics (overall QOL, emotions, head and neck symptoms, side-effects of treatment, chronic non-specific) on Patient Content Checklist were discussed more frequently, but changes were not statistically significant. The Patient Enablement Instrument highlighted a trend towards perceived improvement in four of the six items. Using touchscreen computers to aid communication during routine follow-up was reported as both feasible and beneficial by patients and clinicians. Providing a patient-focused follow-up consultation can facilitate the identification of unmet needs, permitting timely and appropriate intervention being initiated.

AB - The efficacy of traditional follow-up care is being challenged, as cancer survivors’ supportive and psychological needs are often neither identified, nor addressed. This study’s aim was to develop a holistic surgical follow-up clinic for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were participants completed a disease-specific HRQOL tool (UWQOLv4) and item prompt list (PCI) on a touchscreen computer. Information generated was used to focus the consultation on patient’s identified needs and concerns. By means of a prospective non-randomized, pre-test post-test design, this follow-up clinic was evaluated using the Patient Enablement Instrument and Patient Content Checklist. Feasibility was explored from the patient perspective (satisfaction survey) and clinician perspective (qualitative interview). Forty-four consecutive patients were recruited. Findings demonstrating five of the eight topics (overall QOL, emotions, head and neck symptoms, side-effects of treatment, chronic non-specific) on Patient Content Checklist were discussed more frequently, but changes were not statistically significant. The Patient Enablement Instrument highlighted a trend towards perceived improvement in four of the six items. Using touchscreen computers to aid communication during routine follow-up was reported as both feasible and beneficial by patients and clinicians. Providing a patient-focused follow-up consultation can facilitate the identification of unmet needs, permitting timely and appropriate intervention being initiated.

KW - Head and neck cancer

KW - follow-up clinic

KW - touchscreen computer

KW - holistic

M3 - Article

VL - 27

JO - European Journal of Cancer Care

T2 - European Journal of Cancer Care

JF - European Journal of Cancer Care

SN - 0961-5423

IS - 2

ER -