Abstract CN36
Background
Over the last decades, an important shift from a disease-focused to a patient-centered approach has taken place in cancer care. This study examined the quality of patient-centered care for patients treated with oral anticancer drugs (OACD), from the patient and healthcare professional (HCP) perspective.
Methods
Patients and HCPs from 12 Flemish oncology departments completed the CONTACT-Patient-Centered Care Questionnaire (CONTACT-PCCQ) and the CONTACT – Key Elements Questionnare (CONTACT-KEQ) respectively. The questionnaires are based on an evidence-based and validated list of key elements (KEs) considered crucial in patient-centered care for patients on OACD. Patients were asked to indicate how they experienced the performance of each KE on a five-point Likert scale. The HCPs were asked to indicate whether the KE was performed or not. The degree of performance, according to patients and HCPs, was calculated for each KE.
Results
In total, 266 patients and 275 HCPs participated. The degree of performance according to patients ranged from 22% to 95%, with 36 KEs having a degree of performance < 70% (i.e., underperformed). According to HCPs, the degree of performance varied between 23% and 99%, and 15 KEs were underperformed. While HCPs mainly assigned low scores to items related to coordination of care, patients scored low on items regarding counselling at treatment-initiation and during follow-up, and psychosocial support.
Conclusions
This study uncovered gaps in patient-centered care according to patients and HCPs. The differences between the scores of patients and HCPs highlight the importance of including both perspectives when evaluating patient-centeredness of care practices.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Kom op tegen Kanker.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.