Purpose <p>The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift from routine in-person follow-up for early breast cancer (EBC) to the increased use of virtual assessments. This survey explored healthcare providers’ (HCPs) perceptions around current practices and goals of follow-up.</p> Methods <p>Canadian HCPs who treat EBC were contacted via an anonymous survey. Participants provided perspectives on follow-up, current practices, and interest in clinical trials assessing follow-up strategies.</p> Results <p>Responses were received from 73 HCPs including medical (<i>n</i> = 41/73, 56%), radiation (<i>n</i> = 13/73, 18%), and surgical oncologists (<i>n</i> = 13/73, 18%). Thirty-four percent (<i>n</i> = 25/73) of HCPs did not perform routine follow-up. Of the 48 (<i>n</i> = 48/73, 66%) who conducted in-person follow-up, it was typically 6-monthly for years 1–3, yearly until year 5, and then on-demand. Common reasons for follow-up visits were assessment of symptoms from endocrine therapy and for the detection of recurrent disease. HCPs felt routine follow-up with physical examination resulted in earlier detection of local (<i>n</i> = 16/48, 33%) and distant metastasis (<i>n</i> = 6/48, 12.5%). Forty-eight percent of HCPs felt that the transition to virtual visits would not impact either local or distant recurrence rates or overall survival. Sixty-nine percent (<i>n</i> = 33/48) will continue to follow patients with a combination of in-person and virtual appointments. Most respondents agreed that follow-up should be more individualized and risk adapted (<i>n</i> = 42/48, 87.5%). Most (62%, <i>n</i> = 29/47) expressed interest in performing trials assessing well follow-up strategies.</p> Conclusion <p>Virtual care will remain an integral part of routine follow-up. The effects of this on a range of patient outcomes should be explored in future trials.</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Evolving strategies for the routine follow-up of patients with early breast cancer and the impact of COVID-19: a survey of healthcare providers

  • Ana-Alicia Beltran-Bless,
  • Gail Larocque,
  • Angel Arnaout,
  • Jean-Michel Caudrelier,
  • John Hilton,
  • Nasser Alqahtani,
  • Lisa Vandermeer,
  • Gregory Pond,
  • Mark Clemons

摘要

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift from routine in-person follow-up for early breast cancer (EBC) to the increased use of virtual assessments. This survey explored healthcare providers’ (HCPs) perceptions around current practices and goals of follow-up.

Methods

Canadian HCPs who treat EBC were contacted via an anonymous survey. Participants provided perspectives on follow-up, current practices, and interest in clinical trials assessing follow-up strategies.

Results

Responses were received from 73 HCPs including medical (n = 41/73, 56%), radiation (n = 13/73, 18%), and surgical oncologists (n = 13/73, 18%). Thirty-four percent (n = 25/73) of HCPs did not perform routine follow-up. Of the 48 (n = 48/73, 66%) who conducted in-person follow-up, it was typically 6-monthly for years 1–3, yearly until year 5, and then on-demand. Common reasons for follow-up visits were assessment of symptoms from endocrine therapy and for the detection of recurrent disease. HCPs felt routine follow-up with physical examination resulted in earlier detection of local (n = 16/48, 33%) and distant metastasis (n = 6/48, 12.5%). Forty-eight percent of HCPs felt that the transition to virtual visits would not impact either local or distant recurrence rates or overall survival. Sixty-nine percent (n = 33/48) will continue to follow patients with a combination of in-person and virtual appointments. Most respondents agreed that follow-up should be more individualized and risk adapted (n = 42/48, 87.5%). Most (62%, n = 29/47) expressed interest in performing trials assessing well follow-up strategies.

Conclusion

Virtual care will remain an integral part of routine follow-up. The effects of this on a range of patient outcomes should be explored in future trials.