Effect of telephone follow-up on the physical well-being dimension of quality of life in patients with cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of telephone follow-up on the physical well-being dimension of health-related quality of life in patients with cancer.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Public teaching hospital.

Patients: One hundred fifty patients with cancer who were discharged to home from the hospital.

Intervention: Patients received a telephone follow-up call 48-72 hours after discharge. Information was solicited regarding drug-related (and other) problems. Problems were addressed, and advice and support were given.

Measurements and main results: Analysis of variance revealed no differences in the physical well-being dimension of health-related quality of life between patients who received telephone follow-up and a control group who did not. Sixty-eight percent of the follow-up group and 40% of the control group (p = 0.007) reported having had at least one contact with a health professional.

Conclusion: One possible explanation for the lack of effect of the intervention is that high-risk patients in the control group received a similar intervention from other health care professionals. We suggest that telephone follow-up be coordinated among health professionals.