Nurse-led follow-up after oesophageal cancer surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Verschuur E M L, Steyerberg E W, Tilanus H W, Polinder S, Essink-Bot M-L, Tran K T C, van der Gaast A, Stassen L P S, Kuipers E J, Siersema P D
Primary Institution: Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam
Hypothesis
Can nurse-led follow-up improve quality of life and patient satisfaction compared to standard follow-up after oesophageal or gastric cardia cancer surgery?
Conclusion
Nurse-led follow-up at home does not adversely affect quality of life or patient satisfaction compared to standard follow-up and is likely to be more cost effective.
Supporting Evidence
- Nurse-led follow-up had lower medical costs compared to standard follow-up.
- Patients in the nurse-led group reported similar quality of life scores over time.
- Spouses of patients in the nurse-led group were more satisfied with the follow-up.
- Body weight remained stable in the nurse-led follow-up group, while it deteriorated in the standard group.
Takeaway
This study shows that having a nurse visit patients at home after surgery for oesophageal cancer can be just as good as going to the hospital for check-ups, and it might even save money.
Methodology
Patients were randomized to either standard follow-up at the outpatient clinic or nurse-led follow-up at home, with quality of life and satisfaction assessed at multiple time points.
Potential Biases
Patients who preferred standard follow-up may have been less likely to participate.
Limitations
The study had a limited sample size and was designed to detect a major difference in quality of life.
Participant Demographics
Patients were primarily adults who underwent surgery for oesophageal or gastric cardia cancer.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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