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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Breast Cancer | Original Article

Long-term improvement of quality of life in patients with breast cancer: supporting patient-physician communication by an electronic tool for inpatient and outpatient care

Authors: Patricia Lindberg-Scharf, Brunhilde Steinger, Michael Koller, Andrea Hofstädter, Olaf Ortmann, Jan Kurz, Jonathan Sasse, Monika Klinkhammer-Schalke

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 12/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The effectiveness of a pathway with quality of life (QoL) diagnosis and therapy has been already demonstrated in an earlier randomized trial (RCT) in patients with breast cancer. We refined the pathway by developing and evaluating an electronic tool for QoL assessment in routine inpatient and outpatient care.

Methods

In a single-arm study, patients with breast cancer with surgical treatment in two German hospitals were enrolled. QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BR23) was measured with an electronic tool after surgery and during aftercare in outpatient medical practices (3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months) so that results (QoL-profile) were available immediately. Feedback by patients and physicians was analyzed to evaluate feasibility and impact on patient-physician communication.

Results

Between May 2016 and July 2018, 56 patients were enrolled. Physicians evaluated the QoL pathway as feasible. Patients whose physician regularly discussed QoL-profiles with them reported significantly more often that their specific needs were cared for (p < .001) and that their physician had found the right treatment strategy for these needs (p < .001) compared with patients whose doctor never/rarely discussed QoL-profiles. The latter significantly more often had no benefit from QoL assessments (p < .001).

Conclusion

The QoL pathway with electronic QoL assessments is feasible for inpatient and outpatient care. QoL results should be discussed directly with the patient.

Clinical trial information

NCT04334096, date of registration 06.04.2020

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Long-term improvement of quality of life in patients with breast cancer: supporting patient-physician communication by an electronic tool for inpatient and outpatient care
Authors: Patricia Lindberg-Scharf
Brunhilde Steinger
Michael Koller
Andrea Hofstädter
Olaf Ortmann
Jan Kurz
Jonathan Sasse
Monika Klinkhammer-Schalke
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Care
Breast Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 12/2021
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06270-1

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