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Being a cancer patient doesnt mean it stops when you walk out the hospital. Patients and stakeholder perspectives of Surviving Cancer, Living Life telephone care management programme
Alison Richardson, Jennifer John, Jo Armes, Emma Ream
Kings College London, London, UK
Background
Despite evidence that cancer survivors experience unmet needs, services remain poorly developed. This study sought to gain insight and understanding of patients and stakeholder views of a newly established programme designed to support patients who recently completed treatment. The programme, entitled Surviving Cancer, Living Life, consists of telephone care management and was offered to patients with breast and prostate cancer. The programme has been developed and implemented through a partnership between Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Pfizer Health Solutions.
Method
A qualitative approach was used. A purposeful sample of 22 patients and 20 stakeholders involved in the care of these groups of patients were interviewed. Interviews explored perceptions of the potential of and challenges with the programme, and perceived impact and outcomes of telephone support. Patient interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim whilst stakeholders completed an emailed open-ended questionnaire. Data were subjected to Framework Analysis.
Results
Patient perceptions of the telephone programme were unequivocally positive, in contrast to inadequacies felt to be present in traditional, routine cancer care follow up. It appeared to answer a deep felt need for emotional, practical and informational support at a period when they felt vulnerable and provided relational continuity and a point of access. Moreover it helped them adjust to life after treatment. Whilst stakeholders acknowledged the positive impact of the programme they also identified various challenges that require further consideration prior to full implementation in practice. These include ensuring the programme is enmeshed with, and does not duplicate, existing support services and the nature of training, supervision and support required by the care managers.
Conclusion
Telephone care management appears to hold significant promise when designing services to meet the supportive care needs of patients as they adapt to life after finishing treatment, though implementation requires thoughtful and proactive management.
