Clinical oncology : a journal of the Royal College of Radiologists
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Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) · Dec 2010
Results of a quantitative survey to explore both perceptions of the purposes of follow-up and preferences for methods of follow-up delivery among service users, primary care practitioners and specialist clinicians after cancer treatment.
To ascertain perceptions of reasons for follow-up after cancer treatment among service users (patients and carers), primary care practitioners and specialist clinicians (doctors and specialist nurses) and to identify levels of preference for different models of follow-up and the effect of an individual's experience on preferred models. ⋯ There was a reasonable level of consensus between service users, primary care practitioners and specialist clinicians as to the reasons for follow-up. Service users seemed to have higher expectations of follow-up, particularly in relation to detecting recurrences early. As respondents were more likely to prefer a method of follow-up delivery that they had experienced than one they had not; there could be resistance to change from established methods to new methods without adequate explanation. This suggests that the communication of new methods could be critical to their successful introduction.