Satisfaction with Nurse-led Follow-up in Prostate Cancer Patients-A Nationwide Population-based Study

• Background: Satisfaction with nurse-led follow-up among men with prostate can-cer is high. However, it is unclear whether all men are satisfied or whether there are men who would benefit from being followed by a urologist or a nurse.Objective: To investigate the follow-up distribution between urologists and nurses, and whether the high self-reported satisfaction with nurse-led follow-up is inde-pendent of other factors such as age or comorbidity.Design, setting, and participants: All Swedish men, <= 70 yr of age, with a low-risk prostate cancer diagnosis in 2008, answered a questionnaire 7 yr after diagnosis. The extensive questionnaire included a question on satisfaction with care, answered on a seven-point scale. Participants were divided based on whether they were followed up by a nurse, a urologist, or both.Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Factors that could influence the level of satisfaction were identified as age, edu-cation, comorbidity, treatment, disease progression, urinary bother, level of infor-mation, and participation in treatment decision. Likelihood ratio tests from ordinal regression were used to test the null hypothesis of similar satisfaction between groups.Results and limitations: Out of 1288 men, 1137 (88%) answered both the question on who performed the follow-up and the question regarding satisfaction. In all, 350 men reported that they were followed up by nurses (31%), 598 (52%) by urologists, and 189 (17%) by both. No differences in satisfaction where seen between the groups. Approximately 50% were satisfied completely, regardless of who performed the follow-up. Results were not affected by age, educational level, comorbidity, treatment, disease progression, urinary bother, information, or participation in treatment decision. Limitations include the nonrandomized, retrospective design and a potential recall bias.Conclusions: Satisfaction with nurse-led follow-up is high, regardless of factors such as age, level of education, comorbidity, and treatment.Patient summary: Men with prostate cancer can be offered nurse-led follow-up on a regular basis and still maintain their satisfaction with health care.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Active surveillance

Low-risk prostate cancer

Nurse-led follow-up

Population based

Satisfaction

Self-reported

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)