Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING
Volume 11, Issue 3, Pages 212-223Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2006.10.007
Keywords
nurse-led; follow-up; colorectal cancer; clinical nurse specialist
Funding
- Medical Research Council [MC_U127527198] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [MC_U127527198] Funding Source: Medline
- MRC [MC_U127527198] Funding Source: UKRI
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One of the main challenges of colorectal cancer follow-up is the detection of early disease in order to influence survival and improve outcome. Yet, the benefits of follow-up are not only related to survival. It is well documented that patients can experience an array of problems following colorectal cancer surgery which impact upon quality of life, therefore symptom management plays an important part in the overall spectrum of follow-up care. In addition, there is emerging evidence to suggest that clinical nurse specialists are well placed in the multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate such follow-up programmes. This paper reports on a pilot study designed to assess the feasibility of a follow-up programme led by nurse specialists for patients with colorectal cancer. Key outcome areas were adherence to an agreed follow-protocol, quality of life, patient and clinician satisfaction and a costanalysis of the new model.. The study was conducted over one year with 60 patients. This redesign resulted in a smoother pathway of follow-up care, improved quality of life and acceptance to both patients and clinicians alike. The introduction of a nurse-led follow-up model. is expected to demonstrate cost savings over a 3 year rolling follow-up programme. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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