Patient Evaluation of Nurse-Led Oncology Review Clinics

Purpose: To conduct a qualitative analysis of the views and opinions of patients with colon or prostate cancer attending nurse-led oncology review clinics at community hospitals in relation to the service they received near to their homes. Methods and sample: A questionnaire was devised comprising the following sections: demography; a set of judgmental statements; patient concerns; and an overall judgment of service quality and identification of areas for improvement. These were distributed to designated receptionists at Inverurie, Banchory, Turriff and Fraserburgh Community Hospitals to be given to each patient who had previously been treated for colon or prostate cancer and who was attending the oncology review clinic. Results: 103 questionnaires were received. 75% of patients had follow-up for colon cancer (48 men and 29 women) and 25% for prostate cancer. 60% of patients judged the service to be excellent and 34% very good; nobody judged the service as fair or poor. Views were mixed regarding the advantages of travel to a clinic closer to home. 90% of respondents had no concerns at all about attending a local follow-up clinic rather than visiting the main clinic at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Conclusion: This evaluation of nurse-led oncology review clinics demonstrated very high levels of patient satisfaction regarding the quality of the service. Such an approach provides a framework for service development that could be transferred to other patient types and to other localities. Utilizing non-specialist nurse-led oncology follow-up provides a template for service development locally and elsewhere in Scotland.