Radiation oncology outpatient perceptions of patient-centred care: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

ObjectivesWe aimed to describe the proportion and characteristics of cancer patients who perceived that better care would have greatly improved their well-being in (1) specific and (2) multiple domains of patient-centred care.DesignCross-sectional touchscreen computer survey.SettingFour Australian radiation therapy departments located within major urban public hospitals.ParticipantsRadiation therapy outpatients were invited to participate in a touchscreen computer survey. Eligible patients were at least 18 years old, diagnosed with cancer and had sufficient English to complete the survey.Primary outcome measureParticipants were asked whether their well-being could have been greatly improved if better care had been provided across eight domains of patient-centred care. Characteristics of those respondents who identified (1) specific and (2) multiple domains where it was perceived that better care would have greatly improved their well-being were examined.ResultsOf 508 eligible radiation therapy patients, 344 (68%) completed the survey. Patients most frequently perceived that better care in the following domains could have improved their well-being: information and communication about their cancer (22%; 95% CI 18% to 27%); emotional and spiritual support (22%; 95% CI 18% to 27%); management of physical symptoms (21%; 95% CI 17% to 26%) and involvement of friends and family (21%; 95% CI 17% to 26%). Just under one-third of respondents (31%; 95% CI 26% to 36%) indicated that their well-being could have been improved by better care across two or more domains of care. Patients in younger age groups and migrants to Australia had higher odds of endorsing multiple domains where better care would have improved their well-being.ConclusionsFurther investigation of patients’ perceptions of how their perceived quality of care might be improved is warranted, particularly among patients in younger age groups and migrants to Australia.

Reduced patient anxiety as a result of radiation therapist-led psychosocial support: a systematic review

“…RTs are the only HCPs in direct daily contact with patients during treatment, placing them in a unique position to explore patients’ psychosocial needs . Up to one third of patients treated with radiation therapy have been identified as having unmet psychosocial needs with respect to information and communication, emotional and spiritual support, management of physical symptoms and involvement of family and friends . These unmet needs can result in refusal to undergo radiation therapy, treatment delays, reduced compliance, low adherence to medical advice, decreased quality of life, decreased satisfaction with services and increased resource use .…”

The Influence of Doctor-Patient Communication on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

“…Informational needs were reduced by assessing the patients' information preferences, and fulfilled informational needs resulted in higher patient satisfaction (Thoonen et al 2002). Better provision of information and patient educa- tion had a significant impact on the patients' health status (Bhattacharyya et al 2010;Cabana et al 2006;Casas et al 2006;Clark et al 2000;Smith et al 2008;Sperl-Hillen et al 2011;Yilmaz & Akkaya 2002), on compliance (Bhattacharyya et al 2010;Kostev et al 2014;van Ganse et al 2003), and on quality of life (Aiarzaguena et al 2007;Dibbelt et al 2010;Koff et al 2009;Mackenzie et al 2013;Martinez-Moragon et al 2014). Moreover, better patient education did not result in more time spent with the patients than usual care in the long run (Clark et al 2000).…”

“…Especially in the field of cancer (Kimberlin et al 2004;Kuzari et al 2013;Mackenzie et al 2013;Wright et al 2008) but also for other diseases (Wodskou et al 2014), high quality information and education were important for the patients themselves as well as for their families and caregivers. This was appropriate not only for giving support and for understanding the patients' situation, but also for dealing with the fatal consequences of the disease: Wright et al (2008) for example described how end-of-life discussions with advanced cancer patients and their families were able to have a positive impact on the long-term bereavement adjustment after death.…”

Patient-reported areas for quality improvement in general practice: a cross-sectional survey

“…Although the measure appears to have both face validity and internal reliability, 28 the psychometric properties require further testing in general practice.…”

“…Items used to measure the quality of patient-centred care in the current study were adapted from a tool used in radiation oncology outpatients. 28 The tool gives a quick snapshot of the domains that patients may perceive as needing improvement, using only a single item to assess each domain.…”