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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 Jun;50(6):801-9.
doi: 10.1007/s10350-006-0815-8.

Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life after treatment for colon cancer

Carey A Gall  1 , David Weller, Adrian Esterman, Louis Pilotto, Kelly McGorm, Zoe Hammett, David Wattchow
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life after treatment for colon cancer

Carey A Gall et al. Dis Colon Rectum. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Health-related quality of life has become an important outcome in cancer treatment. Detailed health-related quality of life measures were taken as part of a trial of follow-up of patients with colon cancer by general practitioners and surgeons. This study was designed as a longitudinal assessment of health-related quality of life after treatment for carcinoma of the colon and patient satisfaction with two different settings of follow-up (general practitioners vs. surgeons).

Methods: A total of 338 patients were recruited into randomized (n = 203) and patient preference (n = 135) follow-up groups. Prospectively assessed physical and mental health-related quality of life measures and patient satisfaction are reported during two years.

Results: Elderly and less educated patients prefer follow-up by general practitioners over surgeons. Overall, physical health-related quality of life is reduced early after treatment; however, this returns to normal levels at one year. Mental quality of life, anxiety, and depression are at or above population levels throughout the two-year follow-up period. There were no differences in physical or psychologic health-related quality of life measures between general practitioner and surgeon groups at any time during follow-up. Overall, more advanced Dukes stage is associated with a trend to improved mental health-related quality of life. Patients' ability to choose the setting of follow-up has no influence on health-related quality of life compared with random allocation to general practitioner or surgeon. Patients are equally highly satisfied with follow-up by general practitioner or surgeon.

Conclusions: After recovery from treatment for colon cancer, health-related quality of life is similar to the general population. Good health-related quality of life outcomes and high patient satisfaction are as well provided by general practitioners in the community setting as by surgeon review.

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