Ovarian cancer treatment: The benefit of patient telephone follow-up post-chemotherapy

Abstract

Approximately 2,500 women in Canada were diagnosed with cancer of the ovary in 1997 (NCIC, 1997). Standard therapy consists of surgical tumour debulking and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Very little data are available examining the most appropriate outpatient management of patients receiving chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of and benefit received from telephone follow-up between chemotherapy treatments for patients with cancer of the ovary. Patients with cancer of the ovary were treated every three to four weeks with a cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Telephone follow-up was performed five to seven days post-treatment by the gynaecology oncology liaison nurse. Follow-up addressed issues pertinent to treatment and disease side effects. A patient survey addressing the impact of telephone follow-up was performed on a sample of the patient population. Thirty-one patients responded to the survey: Eighty-seven per cent found that receiving a call post-chemotherapy was reassuring and helpful. Eighty-three per cent stated that medications could be adjusted according to the severity of side effects. Eighty per cent of patients agreed that most issues had been dealt with at the time of telephone follow-up. Sixty-four per cent felt that their concerns had been addressed during the phone calls, and only 22% had suggestions on how to improve follow-up. Telephone follow-up during chemotherapy was a valuable tool in assessing patient needs, side effects, and concerns experienced during treatments. Telephone follow-up may facilitate early identification of patient problems allowing appropriate and timely intervention.

The impact of follow-up telephone calls to patients after hospitalization

“…Thus, the postdischarge telephone call allowed for rapid identification of new and potentially significant patient-reported problems requiring intervention. Our results are similar to those of Kelly et al, 9 who found that a telephone call was a valuable tool in assessing adverse effects and patient needs between chemotherapy treatments. The lower rate of ED visits and unscheduled readmissions within 30 days that we observed in the phone call group is a potentially important finding and warrants further study.…”

Ambulatory oncology nursing telephone services: A provincial survey

“…There has been little evaluation of telephone nursing services in Canada (Cooley et al, 1994;Hamilton & Grant, 2006;Kelly, Faught, & Holmes, 1999;Stacey et al, 2003;Wilson & Hubert, 2002). A systematic review of studies of telephone-based health services in primary care found that approximately 50% of the symptom calls could be managed by telephone alone without in-person visits and that nurses' care was equally as safe as physician care (Stacey et al).…”

Les services de soins infirmiers téléphoniques en oncologie ambulatoire : une enquête provinciale

“…En plus de cette intervention de triage, les infirmières prodiguent également des conseils et de l'enseignement aux patients, des références vers d'autres ressources, un soutien psychosocial et les arrangements nécessaires à la prestation de services de soutien à domicile (Wilson et Hubert, 2002 (Cooley et coll., 1994;Hamilton et Grant, 2006;Kelly, Faught et Holmes, 1999;Stacey et coll., 2003;Wilson et Hubert, 2002). Un examen systématique des études portant sur les services de santé fournis au moyen du téléphone dans le domaine des soins primaires a permis de constater qu'environ 50 % des appels relatifs aux symptômes pourraient être gérés au moyen du téléphone sans visites en personne et que les soins infirmiers étaient aussi sécuritaires que les soins dispensés par les médecins (Stacey et coll., 2003).…”